The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) initially reported on Thursday, January 2, 2025, that the Kariba South Power Station was generating 599MW.
However, about three hours later, the power utility revised the figure, stating that the station’s generation was actually 185MW.
ZPC, a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, had earlier on Tuesday provided an energy generation update, claiming Kariba was producing 599MW, Hwange Thermal Power Station was generating 700MW, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were contributing 54MW, for a total of 1,353MW.
After the revision, the output from Hwange and IPPs remained the same, but Kariba’s generation was significantly lowered to 185MW. The utility did not provide an explanation for the sudden change in Kariba’s output.
The initial claim of 599MW from Kariba raised questions, particularly after a report from the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) on Monday, December 30, 2024.
ZRA, responsible for managing the water levels in the Kariba Dam, warned that the lake’s water levels had continued to drop, despite minor fluctuations due to rainfall.
On that day, the Usable Live Storage (for power generation) was only 2%, down from 11.83% on the same date in 2023.
Given the current water scarcity, it seems unlikely that Kariba could be generating 599MW, especially after months of low output due to insufficient water for power generation.
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GgRQSooX0AAphD_?format=png&amp;name=large"/><img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GgR8Y4OW4AAna2P?format=png&amp;name=large"/>
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Pindula News

Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) said Kariba Dam generating 599MW, then changed it to 185MW. Hwange and IPPs output same. ZRA reported water levels low in Kariba Dam. Unlikely for Kariba to produce 599MW with low water levels. Kariba has been low on output due to water scarcity. Kariba is major source of electricity generation. Kariba Dam is important for power generation in Zimbabwe. Decision to lower output unclear.

ZESA Reports 599MW For Kariba, Later "Corrects" Electricity Generation Figures To 185MW

The Zimbabwean government says the country’s power utility will continue generating electricity from the Kariba Dam hydroelectric station despite current low water levels attributed to drought.
The Kariba Dam, a primary source of electricity for both Zimbabwe and Zambia, is managed by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) on behalf of the two nations.
Last month, the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) announced plans to shut down its power station at Kariba due to depleted water levels affecting power generation.
However, Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, said the country will continue generating power from Kariba. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
The Kariba might be shut down due to the low water levels, we don’t expect this to happen on the Zimbabwean side as we share this facility with Zambia and it’s managed through the Zambezi River Authority. Our prognosis is that on the Zimbabwean side, there shouldn’t be difficulty at all.
</blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has been producing decreasing amounts of power from Kariba Dam over the past several months.
As of October 16, 2024, the ZPC Kariba South Power Station was generating a meagre 184MW, compared to its installed capacity of 1,050MW.
According to the ZRA, the lake level has been steadily decreasing due to low inflow, reaching 476.30m (5.56% usable storage) on October 15, 2024, compared to 478.40m (20.23% usable storage) on the same date last year.
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Zimbabwe will keep making electricity at Kariba Dam, even though there's not much water because of drought. Zambia was going to shut down its power station at Kariba because of low water levels. Zimbabwe's Finance Minister said they'll keep generating power from Kariba. The amount of power being made at the dam has been decreasing. The water level in the lake is getting lower each day. Zimbabwe and Zambia share the facility, but only Zambia was planning to close it. Zimbabwe doesn't expect any problems with power generation at Kariba.

Zimbabwe To Continue Power Generation From Kariba Dam Despite Low Water Level

ZESA Holdings, the local power utility, has said customers won’t experience another aggressive load-shedding as experienced in recent weeks saying there has been increased electricity supply in the country lately.
In a statement seen by Pindula News, the authority said it has increased the generation of power at Hwange Power Station. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
<h2>UPDATE ON THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SITUATION DECEMBER 2022</h2>
ZESA Holdings is pleased to advise its valued Stakeholders of the increased electricity supply in the country, which has resulted in reduced load curtailment across all our customer segments. This development follows weeks of depressed generation attributed to the dropping water levels at Lake Kariba which necessitated the directive to reduce power generation at Kariba South Power Station by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA). Moreover, the incessant breakdown of the aged Hwange Power Station equipment saw the station operating with two units during the period. The current power generation challenges affecting the region affected electricity trading on the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) market further reducing import arrangements in the face of exponential demand for power in the country. In the past weeks, we have been extensively engaging with various Stakeholders so as to implement critical measures to alleviate the power deficit challenges. The power deficit is not unique to Zimbabwe but the entire SADC region and interventions proffered by ZESA Management inter alia:
• Our Engineers and Technicians have been working frantically to ensure increased power generation. Consequently, we have increased generation at the Hwange Power Station by getting the broken down Units back up, resulting in Five (5) of the Six (6) being currently operational which has increased supply to the national grid. This will help ease the demand supply gap during the festive break as we also anticipate reduced demand from the business sector during the period.
• Unit 8 is progressing well and is planned to be commissioned during the first quarter of next year.
• We are delighted by the recent announcement by Government to support a good number of Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects, mostly Solar which have been awaiting a Guarantee Structure. The Ministry of Energy and Power Development and ZESA will procure this capacity to the extent to not only balance supply and demand, but also to export surplus capacity, as well as to conserve water in Lake Kariba which will be used both as a balancing plant for Renewables as well as Energy Banking for IPPs via Conjunctive Dispatch. The general shortage of power in the region will inevitably translate to increased costs of Electricity. However, the combination of the Kariba Complex with Solar, mini-hydro and Wind Power whose costs are on a reduction trajectory will ensure competitive pricing to our consumers.
• Zimbabwe has a clear roadmap to transition its power generation to support a green economy to include the Batoka project which will be a joint venture between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Discussions between the countries are now being speeded up whilst development financiers are still being sought. 
• The company is also advancing projects to utilize the available hydro capacity provided by the 10 gorges. Development of a massive hydro potential on the Kafue and Zambezi basins and operation of the power plants on a collaborative conjunctive basis is also being considered as one of the most viable strategy for the region. This project is anticipated to produce megawatts and enable us to export power. 
• We have secured funding for the Hwange Power Station life extension and repowering of small thermal power stations. 
Whilst we anticipate all these plans will help the supply side, customers are being encouraged to use the available power sparingly and engage in Demand Side Management (DSM) initiatives to ease pressure on the grid. 
• We have successfully managed to secure the injection of additional imports from other SAPP members to support supply until the Kariba reservoir recovers in the first quarter of next year. We would like to express our profound gratitude for the support and commitment we got from the Government to mobilize the much needed foreign currency.
• The Utility intensely facilitated the establishment of an Intensive Energy User Group (IEUG) with the objective to guarantee supplies to maximum demand customers and ease pressure on the grid. These customers will import power directly, as well as support the development of IPPs in the country by signing PPAs directly with them. The first meeting was held on 29 March 2022 and there have been engagement meetings in Zambia and Mozambique. We are now pushing that we move faster on this initiative as it is in line with global developments where the private sector is involved more and more in developing and securing power supplies. As a sign of progression and commitment, during the current crisis some of the members of this group offered to resource the Utility with advance payments of their electricity usage bills to enable as to meet our power import obligations, and to date one such transaction has already been implemented.
As a lasting solution and going forward:
• The Hwange 7 &amp; 8 which is set to bring an additional 600MW to the national grid was scheduled to be completed by January 2022, However, the effects of Covid -19 derailed the completion.Our valued stakeholders are advised that Hwange 7 &amp; 8 commissioning preparations are well on course. To date, it is pleasing to see that the technical tests are progressing well and the Utility expects the first additional 300 Megawatts from Unit 7 soon. Every indication is that it has been built well. We are treading cautiously on the technical aspects so that we energize robust machinery hence the need to follow all comprehensive commissioning tests. It is against this background that on this last mile, the ZESA leadership and respective staff are resident at the Hwange Power Station for the duration of the festive period being cognizant of the importance, expectations and urgency that this matter presents.
Accordingly, ZESA would like to assure its valued customers that they will not experience the aggressive load curtailment they have been experiencing in the past few weeks during the festive period. The utility is conversant of the need to guarantee supply to the nation, and thus we not only have measures to mitigate the emergency but also have opportunities to increase capacity and to improve service delivery.
We would like to sincerely apologize to all our valued stakeholders for the inconveniences caused during this period.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BRIGHTER NEW YEAR!!!
Stakeholder Relations (23/12/2022)
</blockquote>
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ZESA Assures Customers They Won't Experience Another Aggressive Load-Shedding

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said authorities will take extraordinary measures to ensure that Zimbabwe does not face severe power shortages in 2023.
His remarks come as the southern African nation is facing a huge power deficit that has seen most parts of the country going for at least 18 hours daily without power.
Writing in his column for <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/power-shortages-will-end-in-2023-enough-electricity-for-christmas-secured">The Sunday Mail</a>, the President said Government is intensifying efforts to boost power generation through a raft of measures. He said:
<blockquote>
Extraordinary measures are needed and will be taken in the coming year. With the US$310 million, we now have to refurbish and replace old Generators 1 to 6 at Hwange, coupled with the coming on stream of Generators 7 and 8, early next year, we should see an appreciable improvement in power supply early in the coming year.
We must now plan for our power generation and supply as if Kariba is discounted from our energy supply matrix, so we have at least 2 000 megawatts from non-hydro power sources. That way, we weather-proof our energy sector and with it, our whole Economy. I have already instructed Government to remove all and any entry barriers to new investments in the energy sector.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa said the “rapid growth and expansion in both mining and industry, coupled with new investment projects across sectors, has increased demand for power,” thereby creating “a clear mismatch between power generation and supply on the one hand, and power demand and distribution on the other.”
He also said Kariba’s power generation capacity had drastically fallen from its installed capacity of 1 100 megawatts to a mere 100 megawatts. 
The president also said Zimbabwe’s capacity for thermal power had also fallen due to the aged six generators developed soon after Independence.
Government critics say the ruling ZANU PF government failed to adequately invest in the energy sector.
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President Mnangagwa: "We Should See An Improvement In Power Supply Early 2023"

Minister of Energy and Power Development Zhemu Soda (MP) launched the Renewable Energy Fund this Monday. 
The Fund is expected to unlock over USD 30 Million from the Zimbabwean financial markets, and regional and international development focus entities, the bulk of which would otherwise not typically be directed towards RE fina
This year, the United Nations SDG-Fund approved Zimbabwe’s USD 45 Million programme on catalysing investments in Renewable Energy (RE) for the acceleration of the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country. 
The UN SDG-Fund is contributing USD 10 Million to the programme whilst the Government of Zimbabwe through the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) and local partners including Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG), Zimnat Asset Management and CABS is contributing a total of USD 35 Million.
The 4-year programme aims to leverage private investments in order to support Renewable Energy-based projects for the achievement of the SDGs in Zimbabwe. 
During the launch, Soda was asked to state the major sources of power in Zimbabwe to which he responded by saying Kariba and Hwange. 
He said Hwange’s capacity is 920 Megawatts but is generating an average of 400 MW because it’s now 40 years without major rehabilitation.
The minister added that the government has taken a decision to rehabilitate the Hwange power station with around US$310m and various services have started at Hwange for rehabilitation on all the 6 power generation units that are currently making up for the Hwange Station. He added:
<blockquote>
The idea was to take out 2 units at a time when unit 7 starts feeding into the grid. This will kickstart after the coming in of units 7 and 8, where units 1 to 6 are rehabilitated.
</blockquote>
He said the rehabilitation of Kariba Dam which started in 2017 is still on course and is expected to end in 2025. He said:
<blockquote>
It’s on 61% completion. The Spillway rehabilitation is at 50%. It started in 2019. This rehabilitation has nothing to do with the current shortage of power.
</blockquote>
The minister also said Zimbabwe has a capacity of generating 1500 megawatts at Kariba but all depends on the availability of water. Soda added:
<blockquote>
Because of Hwange power station breakdowns, we had to depend and rely on Kariba more than what Zambia did particularly in Winter.
We are aware we have over-used our water, we are now using water for Zambia to generate electricity after negotiations at a higher level to allow Zimbabwe to continue generating between 250 and 300 megawatts. There is absolutely nothing bad about Zimbabwe or Zambia.
Munyati has a capacity of 90MW, Byo 100 MW and Harare around 200MW. But they have been producing less. We are on Bulawayo station to produce around 90 to 100MW and funding has been secured for that.
</blockquote>
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Energy Minister Launches Renewable Energy Fund

Former <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)</a> chief executive officer, Engineer <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Josh_Chifamba">Joshua Chifamba</a> has blamed unfavourable tariffs for sinking the nation into the current electricity crisis.
He speaks when Zimbabwe is experiencing a huge power deficit that has seen both households and industry enduring 18 or more hours-long power cuts which authorities have attributed to declining water levels at Kariba Dam. <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/former-zesa-ceo-blames-low-tariffs-delayed-sacrifices-for-current-electricity-problems/">NewsZimbabwe.com</a> cites him as saying:
<blockquote>
Kariba would thus change its operating regime &amp; the wholesale price of electricity would be reduced, as imported peaking power was coming in at USc45/kWh, against a retail tariff of USc9/kWh.
This change was never supposed to be a threat to water in Kariba that it has become.
Thus, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited, with the same capacity as ZESA at Kariba; but unlike ZESA having leverage to operate according to the new operating regime; after having built new power stations; has kept within its water allocation. It’s that simple!
So, the addition of generators at Kariba is not, in and of itself, the cause of the water problem at Kariba.
Issues in the sector have been left unresolved for far too long! The main Achilles heel have been sub economic tariffs and a challenging economic environment.
</blockquote>
Chifamba said outside peak time, output at Kariba was supposed to reduce, to allow for increased output at peak.
Economists have since warned that should the electricity crisis continue unresolved, efforts made to revive the ailing economy will soon be reversed due to erratic productivity.
The government has however made some interventions which include revamping ZESA’s institutional sustainability and tabling plans for further expansion of the power generation capacity among others.
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Former ZESA CEO Speaks On The Causes Of The Electricity Crisis

Some Zimbabweans have said having electricity at night, for a few hours, is the same as not having electricity since there is not much they can use the power.
Most parts of the country get power at night as ZESA, the local power utility, is trying to manage a power crisis.
One Harare resident told BBC that the situation needs to be resolved before it degenerates into a “disaster.” He was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
There is no schedule – yesterday we got it at 10 past 10 but it is passed that time now. Electricity is very essential in our business… From what the government officials are saying we hope this [situation] should turn around soon. If it doesn’t it will be a disaster.
</blockquote>
A 43-year-old Wella Chidziva from Mbare said load-shedding was giving citizens a hard time. She told BBC:
<blockquote>
We now give each other chances to cook, one over there and another there. It’s the same as not having electricity because when it comes around [midnight] the children are sleeping. Now we are in [the Christmas period] I don’t know what we are going to do.
</blockquote>
Some businesses have started working at night while ordinary Zimbabweans are also being forced to change their schedules, to wake up at midnight to iron their clothes, use electric appliances and catch up on the World Cup matches.
Zimbabwe has used about US$2 billion dollars (£1.6bn) for power generation in the last decade but the country still struggles with outages.
The crisis escalated at the end of November when the Zambezi River Authority <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">ordered Zimbabwe’s Kariba South power station to shut down</a> due to dangerously low water levels.
Experts say the country’s coal-powered thermal plants are supposed to supply the baseload power, but the aged generators frequently break down forcing authorities to draw heavily on Kariba.
The country is currently producing about 500 megawatts (MW) of power against a daily peak demand of 2 200 MW.
Energy expert Victor Utedzi who founded the solar farm Centragrid, 30km (19 miles) northwest of the capital, says there is no easy and quick solution to power problems.
He said Zimbabwe needs big projects such as the Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station to dent the problems the southern African nation is facing. 
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"It's The Same As Not Having Electricity" - Zimbabweans Speak On Load-shedding

Power went off during an examination at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in the Great Hall.
UZ acting registrar Munyaradzi Madambe Thursday confirmed the development adding that there was darkness for a brief moment, according to NewsDay. He said: 
<blockquote>
We had a series of power outages on December 6, 2022. It’s unfortunate that someone decided to be mischievous by taking that picture during the 30 seconds transition from Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) electricity to generator power. All our venues have backup power. It is also important to note that we have a dedicated ZESA power grid, so we hardly have power cuts, unless there is a fault, of which Zesa would always expeditiously attend to.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) secretary-general Joseph Nyamayaro refuted Madambi’s claims saying there was darkness for about 15 minutes during the examination. He is quoted by NewsDay as saying:
<blockquote>
The UZ is taking students for granted. However, it is the State that is actually disrespecting students because it is a shame that its higher education institutions have increased fees, but cannot provide simple things like generators for students during examinations.
To say the blackout during the examination happened for a few seconds is mere propaganda. One cannot take a picture of a blackout in seconds. Even if electricity was later restored, they cannot restore the damage that students experienced. During an examination, the mind and body should be in sync. This rot in electricity and water service delivery has severely affected students.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is experiencing a huge power deficit which is expected to intensify in the following weeks after the Zimbabwe Power Company was ordered to scale down operations at the Kariba South Hydropower Station to allow water to refill at Kariba Dam.
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Power Goes Off During UZ Exam

Zimbabwe’s permanent secretary of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana has said the government is working to resolve the power crisis which he said is “causing distress to the citizenry and business.”
The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)</a> rolled out a crippling load-shedding schedule last week after being directed by the Zambezi River Authority <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">to reduce power generation</a> at <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kariba_South_Power_Station">Kariba South Hydropower Station</a> to allow the water body to refill.
In some parts of the country, load-shedding goes for 22 hours while it is effective, uninterrupted, from 5 am to 11 pm in some parts of Harare, the capital. In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Mangwana thanked the citizenry for its patience. He said:
<blockquote>
The power cuts are causing distress, inconvenience and cost to the citizenry and business. This is regrettable. The challenge is affecting part of our region. Govt is seized with implementing immediate mitigatory measures to bring normalcy. We thank you for your patience.
</blockquote>
His remarks are in resonance with those of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who wrote in his weekly column in The Sunday Mail that the <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/the-power-crisis-makes-us-unattractive-to-investments-president-mnangagwa/">power cuts were making Zimbabwe unattractive to potential investors</a>.
Businesses say they have resorted to using generators and solar systems, an alternative that is expensive and is likely to trigger a sharp rise in the prices of commodities.
Zimbabwe’s imports of 540MW from neighbouring countries are not enough to cover the power deficit.
An update by the Zimbabwe Power Company on 6 December 2022 (today) suggests that Zimbabwe is generating a total of 494MW. In total, Zimbabwe has 1034 MW against a peak demand of 2 200 MW.
ZESA heavily relies on the Kariba Hydropower Station as the ageing <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Hwange_Power_Station">Hwange Thermal Power Station</a> is always breaking down.
There have been efforts to refurbish the Hwange plant and introduce new ones but there are no dividends to pick from the initiatives, yet.
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"Power Cuts Are Causing Distress To The Citizenry And Business," - Mangwana

Energy and Power Development minister Zhemu Soda Sunday said the decline in the quantity of power generated at Kariba is as a result of natural causes, <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004481/no-funding-for-power-imports-minister">NewsDay</a> reported. 
His remarks come after the Zimbabwe Power Company, a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), was directed by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) to scale down operations at Kariba South Hydropower Station to allow water to refill at Kariba Dam.
ZPC stated on 5 December 2022 (today) that only 200MW were being generated at the plant.
The situation means Zimbabwe will likely have prolonged power cuts. Commenting on the situation while addressing journalists in Harare, Soda said:
<blockquote>
The government is making an intervention. This is a crisis situation and we hope through that intervention, funding will be available to apply for the additional capacity which we are looking forward to getting from our neighbours.
The ministry urges all consumers to reduce load by employing energy conservation and efficiency measures. Lights must be switched off in all offices at night and other measures like rightsizing of equipment, use of energy savers.
Over and above the above measures, government is pursuing a medium to long-term plan to meet the power needs of the country. The government is supporting the acceleration of implementation of renewable energy projects by independent power producers.
Government has identified some solar sites where it will fast-track implementation and pre-feasibility studies have already been done. It must be noted that the situation at Kariba is mainly due to natural causes and the ministry is doing all in its power to avert the situation.
The Zimbabwean government has turned to neighbouring countries seeking to increase imports from the region and replace 300MW lost through restrictions at Kariba.
</blockquote>
Currently, Zimbabwe is importing a combined 250 megawatts (MW) from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.
Additional negotiations are ongoing, with 150MW expected from Mozambique, Soda said.
Zhemu made the remarks after hopes to import more power from Zambia were dampened with the neighbouring country introducing a six-hour daily load-shedding regime starting on December 15.
Zimbabwe had hoped to plug the supply gap with additional power imports from Zambia. 
However, the latest developments mean continued power imports from Zambia is no longer guaranteed.
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The Situation At Kariba Is Mainly Due To Natural Causes - Energy Minister

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the power crisis in Zimbabwe is making the southern African country “unattractive to investments” hence the need to find solutions “urgently”.
His remarks come after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages the river’s water on behalf of Zambia and Zimbabwe, advised the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Power_Company">Zimbabwe Power Company</a> to <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">shut down</a> its <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kariba_South_Power_Station">Kariba South Hydropower Plant</a> owing to reduced water levels.
This limited electricity generation at the plant to 300 megawatts (MW).
Writing in his weekly column in <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/govt-mobilises-resources-for-power-imports">The Sunday Mail</a>, President Mnangagwa said he convened an urgent meeting for all Government departments to tackle the emerging threat. He said:
<blockquote>
We have to engage sister countries in our SADC region with <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zimbabwe-engages-zambia-for-additional-power-imports-minister/">excess power to export</a> to us. We urgently need to plug the current deficit through more imports.
Enough resources have to be mobilised for that to happen. They will be mobilised. The cost of importing power is relatively less than a slowdown in industry, whose capacity utilisation has been rising steadily.
Or stoppages altogether, not to mention delays in new investments caused by power shortages. Such an eventuality makes us unattractive to investments, foremost foreign direct investments which are so hard to attract, and can easily choose other country destinations. I am concerned about power-related stresses which industry is currently facing. Solutions will be found urgently.
</blockquote>
President Mnangagwa indicated that Hwange Unit 7 will be commissioned in a few weeks, while work to refurbish six existing generators at the same power station and several other thermal stations across the country is currently underway. 
He added that the Government will ensure enough coal deliveries are made to all thermal power stations, as well as relook into the licensing regime to encourage independent power producers (IPPs) and new players in the renewable sector.
Zimbabwe generates a total of 1 124MW against a peak demand of 2 200 MW.
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"The Power Crisis Makes Us Unattractive To Investments" - President Mnangagwa

Eskom, South Africa’s power utility, has implemented Stage 4 blackouts until Monday morning.
That means you won’t have electricity at least three times on Sunday.
The power utility says further breakdowns at power stations necessitated the increase in power cuts.
They’re also to conserve limited diesel stocks and to allow for dam levels in the pumped storage schemes to be replenished. 
In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Eskom said:
<blockquote>
Further breakdowns require the implementation of Stage 4 loadshedding with immediate effect until 05:00 on Monday morning. This is to conserve the limited diesel stocks and to create space to replenish the dam levels in the pumped storage schemes.
</blockquote>
The prolonged power crisis in South Africa has had an adverse impact on neighbouring Zimbabwe.
The power utility has a contract to sell electricity to Zimbabwe which is also facing acute power shortages.
South Africa recently announced that it will not be able to supply Zimbabwe with electricity beyond what it is supplying right now as it is also struggling to meet local demand.
This is happening as Zimbabwe was advised by the Zambezi River Authority to shut down its Kariba South Hydro Power Plant to allow water to refill in the Kariba Dam.
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Eskom Implements Stage 4 Blackouts Until Monday Morning

South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, has said it cannot supply Zimbabwe more than it does now because as it “does not have any access to capacity”.
Eskom has a contract with Zimbabwe to supply electricity.
The remarks come after the Zambezi River Authority’s <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">directive to Zimbabwe to close</a> its Kariba South hydroelectric power station due to <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/11/25/kariba-dam-water-levels-fall-to-5-63/">a recession in water levels.</a>
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha told <a href="https://www.citizen.co.za/news/eskom-cut-off-zimbabwe-sas-grid-collapse/">The Citizen SA</a> that the power utility cannot help Zimbabwe. 
Mantshantsha’s remarks were echoed by Energy and Political analyst Tshepo Kgadima who said Zimbabweans should brace themselves for a dark Christmas as the region awaits a recovery from the rainfall season. He is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
I don’t know how they would do that under the current climate, previous years, let’s say seven, eight years ago, that was feasible, but today is not at all, it’s not feasible.
And if they do it now, on political grounds and not on technical grounds or obeying the laws of physics then South Africa’s grid is going to collapse.
Here is the thing that we need to maybe ask the river system has a hydro capacity of 20 000 megawatts, now they knew this how many years ago? How come they’ve never done anything to increase that capacity?
</blockquote>
According to a letter dated 25 November from the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which runs the Kariba Dam jointly owned by Zimbabwe and neighbouring Zambia, the dam no longer has any usable water to continue undertaking power generation operations.
ZRA noted that the Kariba South Hydro Power Station which provides Zimbabwe with about 70% of its electricity and has been producing significantly less than its capacity of 1,050 megawatts in recent years due to receding water levels caused by droughts.
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