ZETDC battles to manage load shedding
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), says it is employing a number of measures to manage load shedding that besieged the country lately.
ZETDC statement follow a major outcry by the local business membership organisations which indicated that load shedding was detrimental to the industries operations.
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Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry (CZI) has forecasted an improved capacity utilisation of 58 percent in the third quarter of the year after reporting an improved capacity utilisation of 47 and 54 percent in the first and second quarter of 2021 respectively stemming partly from the stable power supply.
In this regard, local industries have registered displeasure over the intermittent electricity supply as they present capacity utilisation constraints like loss of production time, the decline in marginal productivity of workers, increased cost to business as firms will be forced to resort to alternative power supply like diesel and petrol generators.
According to ZETDC, the total power supply in the country is ranging from 1240 megawatts to 1600 megawatts against typical demand of about 1735 megawatts, translating to a power deficit of between 145 to 500 megawatts.
“Zimbabwe is experiencing power outages again, after a long period of stability. This is disrupting the performance of industry, as power is a critical enabler. “Power supply shortages due to load shedding will be detrimental to industry as the gains that have been made so far in capacity utilisation will be eroded. It is projected to increase to 58 percent in the third quarter. However, with the current load shedding, capacity utilisation will likely decline,” CZI indicated in a statement.
As a panacea to the worrying power cuts, ZETDC said it was confident that the two under maintenance generators will be up and running momentarily and was also in talks for supplementary power supply from regional colleagues.
“The utility is pleased to advise of an improvement of generation at Hwange Power Station after the return to service of unit number five, which has since improved the station output by 150 megawatts.
“Amongst the many mitigation measures being taken to address this shortfall the power utility is in discussions with power utilities in Mozambique and Zambia for a possible supply of 280 MW beginning of October 2021.
The electricity supply authority also hinted at prospects of adding 60,5 MW from independent power producers by the end of 2021.
Critically, the power cuts pose a severe threat to now maturing wheat, which is now at the precarious grain filling stage which requires constant electricity supply for irrigation.
ZETDC further pronounced that generator number one at Kariba (125 MW) is anticipated to be back online by Friday this week having been on annual maintenance since 13 August 2021.
Generator number six at Hwange power station is also expected back to service on Thursday this week after maintenance that came as a result of boiler tube leaks. The servicing of the two generators at Hwange and Kariba will avail 270 MW to the country by the end of this September.-eBusiness Weekly
