Zimbabwe has seen an improvement in electricity supply this week, with many suburbs experiencing stable supply and some even enjoying zero load shedding over the past two days.
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), total power generation in the country increased from 1,303MW on 26 March to 1,591MW on 27 March, and further to 1,622MW on 28 March 2025.
Hwange Thermal Power Station remains the leading producer, followed by Kariba South Power Station and independent power producers (IPPs).
On Friday, 28 March, Hwange was generating 1,066MW, Kariba contributed 485MW, and IPPs added 71MW.
This boost in power supply comes after a period of intensified load shedding caused by low water levels at Lake Kariba and maintenance work on Hwange Units 6 and 7. 
Unit 6, an older unit, has a capacity of 150MW, while Unit 7, one of two new units commissioned in 2023, generates 300MW.

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Zimbabwe is making more electricity now. The power company said they made 1,622MW on 28 March, up from 1,303MW on 26 March. Hwange Thermal Power Station is doing the most, followed by Kariba South Power Station and independent power producers. On 28 March, Hwange made 1,066MW, Kariba made 485MW, and IPPs added 71MW. This good news comes after they had less power before because Lake Kariba had low water and Hwange needed maintenance. Unit 6 can make 150MW, and Unit 7 makes 300MW. Now, many suburbs have electricity without cutting it off.

Zimbabwe Records Increased Electricity Generation

The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a unit of ZESA Holdings, has increased power generation at the Kariba South Hydropower Station to mitigate a severe electricity crisis following the shutdown of two generators at the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
Since Tuesday, March 4, Kariba has been generating a maximum of 485 MW, a significant increase from the 185 MW it had been producing over the past several months due to low water levels at Lake Kariba.
Although the lake level remains low, with a mere 9.60% Usable Live Storage on February 3, 2025, compared to 15.36% on the same date in 2024, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has noted a gradual rise as the rainy season progresses.
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On Friday, ZESA announced that two units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station would shut down for maintenance.
Unit 7, one of the two new units commissioned in 2023 and generating 300 MW, will undergo maintenance from March 2 to March 29, 2025. Unit 6, an older unit producing 150 MW, will be shut down from mid-March to May.
As of Friday, Hwange was generating 1,076 MW, while the total national output stood at 1,341 MW.
However, on Wednesday, March 5, Hwange was generating 666 MW, Kariba was producing 485 MW, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) contributed 79 MW, giving a total output of 1,230 MW.

ZESA in Zimbabwe is making more electricity in Kariba because some generators in Hwange stopped working. This is helping because the country does not have enough power. The water levels in Lake Kariba are low, but they are slowly rising because of the rain. Two units in Hwange are getting fixed, so they won't make electricity for a while. Overall, the country is making around 1,230 MW of electricity, with Kariba, Hwange, and other sources working together. This will help people have enough electricity for their homes.

ZESA Ramps Up Kariba Power Generation As Hwange Units Shut Down

Zimbabweans should brace for extended load shedding as the country’s electricity supply falters due to failing infrastructure at Hwange Thermal Power Station and critically low water levels at Kariba Dam, reported <a href="https://cite.org.zw/power-crisis-deepens-as-minister-reveals-shocking-decline-in-electricity-generation/">CITE</a>.
Many households are experiencing blackouts lasting over 18 hours and in some cases, up to 24 hours, crippling businesses and halting productivity.
In the National Assembly on Wednesday, Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo attributed the worsening crisis to dysfunction at Zimbabwe’s key power generation facilities.
This came after MP Engineer Leslie Mhangwa, who chairs the Energy Portfolio Committee, questioned Moyo about the growing power shortages despite typically higher winter generation levels, which are now leading to more than 24 hours of continuous load shedding in some areas. Said Mhangwa:
<blockquote>
From the statistics from Zimbabwe Power Company, currently we are generating almost the same power we were generating in winter.
In winter, we had shorter load shedding with the high usage from winter and the winter wheat crop. Yet now we are having more than 24 hours load shedding.
Is there a crisis that has not been notified to the people or is it a new Government policy that has changed?
</blockquote>
Moyo, however, disputed Mhangwa’s assessment, presenting recent figures to illustrate the steep decline in electricity production. He said:
<blockquote>
The power that we were generating in winter is not the same as the power being generated now.
Currently, at Hwange 7 and 8, we are running at full throttle and generating 640 megawatts.
At Hwange Stages 1 and 2, during winter, we were at peak capacity at 420 megawatts. Now, we are doing 260 megawatts, and as a result of the breakdown of other units, we are now generating power using just three units.
In Kariba during that time, we were able to do up to 300 megawatts but now we are only able to do 100 megawatts.
We were allocated 8.4 billion cubic metres of water for Lake Kariba for use this year but, at some point, we had to get up to 500 megawatts from Kariba to meet the high demand.
That has significantly reduced the water levels, and we are now left with about 1 billion cubic litres of water, which can generate 100 megawatts up to the end of the year.
</blockquote>
Mhangwa pressed the minister about inconsistencies in power generation statistics, pointing out that on certain days, power output exceeded 1,100 megawatts, yet load shedding still occurred. He said:
<blockquote>
On 4 August 2024 we generated 1,128 (megawatts), in September 2024 we generated 917 and on 29 August 2024, we generated 1,108.
Today, we are supposed to have generated 1 128 but we are worse off today than when we were generating less. Something is inaccurate there, Hon. Minister.
</blockquote>
Moyo explained that daily power fluctuations are due to solar power, which varies with weather conditions.
On sunny days, solar systems generate maximum power, but on overcast or partly cloudy days, they generate less. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
Some of the power that is being referred to comes from solar, and solar by its nature is intermittent.
In terms of the power generated every day, you may find that you may vacillate between 20 and 70 megawatts depending on the climate [sic] conditions on that day.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Energy Minister in Zimbabwe said there is a big problem with making electricity. The Hwange power station and Kariba Dam don't work well. People are getting power cuts for long hours, which stops businesses from working. The Minister says there is not enough electricity being made, even though they used to make more in the winter. The Minister said the solar power is also not reliable. This means that the country is facing a big electricity problem, and things might get worse if they don't fix it soon.

Energy Minister Reveals Shocking Decline In Electricity Generation

In a significant development, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), successfully reconnected Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 6 last week. This achievement adds approximately 150 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.
Another 100MW unit is expected to be brought back online within the next two weeks, further bolstering the country’s power capacity.
Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo, in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/zesa-boosts-power-output-from-hwange">The Sunday Mail</a>, highlighted the impact of these reconnections.
The two units at Hwange are poised to enhance daily power generation, aiming for an impressive output of around 1,500MW. Here’s what Minister Moyo had to say:
<blockquote>
Currently, we are producing about 1,300MW against a demand ranging from 1,700MW to 2,000MW. Last week, we successfully brought back Unit 6, one of our largest units, which now contributes 150MW.
On April 7, we’re set to bring back another 100MW unit, assuming all goes smoothly. This move will raise our production to the targeted 1,500MW.
</blockquote>
To address the remaining shortfall, local power generation is also supported by independent power producers, contributing an average of 80MW daily.
This concerted effort aims to minimize reliance on imports, aligning with Zimbabwe’s goal of self-sufficiency.
Additionally, Zimbabwe has ambitious plans for the future. By September 2024, the country intends to install its first utility-scale battery storage system (USBSS).
This large-scale battery storage acts as a giant rechargeable battery, storing excess electricity generated during off-peak hours and releasing it back into the grid during peak demand periods.
Minister Moyo also revealed that the government secured a portion of a US$310 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of India.
This funding will support the refurbishment of six old units at Hwange. However, additional funding remains a priority to ensure sustained progress.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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