- Zesa has announced a load-shedding schedule for Zimbabwe.
- The announcement follows a drop in generation capacity.
- About 1.19GW is being produced compared to the nationwide demand of 1.5GW.
Power generation constraints and limited energy imports have reduced the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) supply capacity. In addition, the Kariba dam wall rehabilitation also requires two generators to be taken out for 12 hours daily. As a result, the utility unveiled a nationwide load-shedding schedule through its distribution arm, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).
Power cuts will alternate between evening and morning peak hours, and ZESA said it would prioritise power supply to critical infrastructures like hospitals, oxygen-producing plants, water and sewer installations and winter wheat farmers.
According to Zesa, the country produced 1,196MW on Friday short of the 1,500MW demand. China’s Sinohydro has signed a contract with the government to add two units of 300MW each at Hwange. The additional capacity is expected to come online next year.