The Sunday News
From Gabriel Masvora in Victoria Falls
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has promised that the country will not experience load shedding by 2018 on the back of various new power projects that are already under way to mitigate power shortages.A senior Zesa official Engineer Patrick Chivaura told delegates at the Chamber of Mines Conference in Victoria Falls on Friday that the new projects were progressing well and the country was on course to end load-shedding.
“I know you miners want to know when load shedding will end. Well, let me promise you that there will not be load shedding in Zimbabwe by 2018,” he said.
The first project towards meeting this goal, said Engineer Chivaura, was the first phase of the Kariba South Project which will put an additional 150 megawatts in two years.
“Kariba South project is progressing well. The first phase will go online in 2017 and another line will go up in 2018 putting another 150MW. At the moment work is progressing well and there is nothing which points to any delays. Work is being done on strict basis. Some of the tunnels where the equipment will be put have been done,” he said.
At Hwange, he said the company was carrying out a geological survey with an idea to extend the project by 2018.
“The new project will add another 600 megawatts.”
Work was also under way at various thermal power stations across the country to improve generating capacity, he said.
He said mining companies could also partner Zesa in building small hydro power stations and they would get first preference in the supply of power.
Because of participation of the private sector in the power sector, he said there was no longer load shedding in Honde Valley and Nyanga where four mini hydro stations were set up by private players.
“So mining companies can help in the area. If you set up the mini power station you will obviously get preference on the power produced.”
Zimbabwe has been facing power shortages resulting in major load shedding which has contributed to reduced production.
Local generation capacity at 1 300MW falls far short of the demand of 2200MW which also stands way above the installed capacity of 1900MW.
