HARARE — Energy Minister, Soda Zhemu Wednesday told Parliament that the power situation is likely to worsen due to dilapidated equipment.
The country has been facing extensive power cuts in the last two weeks which has adversely affected business operations and has seen a shortage for home use.
Responding to questions from Members of Parliament, Zhemu said said aged equipment was hampering power production.
“We would not know these interventions because currently, we are working on aged equipment,” Zhemu said.
Recently, ZESA revealed that it is in need of US$2,5 billion to end load shedding as the country grapples with subdued local power generation.
Further, Zesa is owed over ZW$15 billion (US$105 million) by consumers over non-payment of electricity services by the debtors in the industry and the government.
Zhemu said he can only give assurance when Hwange Power Station is up and running, that is Unit 7 and Unit 8.
“That is when we will have self-sufficiency from internal generation. On the expansion of the power station, there are two units that will be coming through; one by the end of this year is unit 7 which will be producing 300 megawatts. We will also have another unit, unit 8 coming through in the first quarter of 2023. We will also see the rehabilitation of the Hwange power station which is now very old.
“The intention is to bring it back to its installed capacity of 900 megawatts,” he added.
The country generates an estimated 1,300 megawatts against an installed capacity of 2,240 megawatts owing to aging equipment and frequent breakdowns at power plants.
In the AG’s 2020 report For Appropriation Accounts Finance Accounts Revenue Statements and Fund Account, Zesa had foreign debts of US$1,1 billion in the form of interest on outstanding loans advanced to the power utility by the government.
In its 2019 State Enterprises and Parastatals report, following the reintroduction of the Zimbabwean dollar, the auditor general found Zesa’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by ZW$3,2 billion (US$22,6 million). This was from a 2018 comparative of ZW$1,5 billion (US$10,5 million).
