Brace For Increased Load-Shedding- Zimbabweans Told

The Zimbabwe power utility ZESA has warned of increased power cuts across the country, which could last until Friday following a fault at the Hwange power station.

In a statement today the Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA, said the reduced power generation will see customers going for several hours daily without electricity.

“ZETDC would like to advise its valued customers nationwide that there will be increased load curtailment from June 28 to July 1, 2022.

“This is due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station
Our engineers are working around the clock to ensure restoration of full service,” reads the statement.

Hwange Power Station has a designed capacity of 920 MW but has been generating around 360 MW.

The Zimbabwe Power Company said on its website that Zimbabwe was generating about 1,350 MW on Tuesday – 16 MW from Munyati, 351 from Hwange and 983 at Kariba Hydro Power Station.

However, Zimbabwe needs between 1,500 and 1,700 MW to maintain uninterrupted power supplies.

The government of Zimbabwe contracted China’s Sinohydro to add two units of 300 MW each at Hwange, which are expected to come on stream by Christmas, with works said to be over 80 percent complete.