HARARE: Zimbabwe’s current power crisis is expected to ease during coming weeks following completion of maintenance work at four thermal power stations, Energy Minister Samuel Undenge revealed Sunday.Undenge told the state-run Sunday Mail that current electricity load shedding could soon ease as 400 megawatts would be added to Zimbabwe’s power grid following completion of routine maintenance work at Hwange, Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati thermal stations.
“The situation is going to improve as all six units at Hwange Thermal Power Station are now functioning… If we add what Hwange and Kariba are producing to the power being produced at plants like Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati, (then) severe electricity cuts will no longer be there,” Undenge said.
The minister said the Zimbabwean authorities were negotiating additional imports of 100MW from Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa. The country has lately been importing only 50MW from Mozambique.
The minister’s comments came in the wake of rolling power cuts in Zimbabwe since September, largely blamed on low water levels at Kariba Dam. The load shedding has seen Zimbabweans enduring up to 18 hours a day without electricity.
