HARARE – State-owned power utility ZESA, citing low water levels reduce output from its biggest hydro plant, on Sunday said it would ration electricity supply, with households set to be without power for at least five hours daily.
ZESA, which is too broke to import power to cover the deficit, published a load shedding schedule on Sunday through its power transmission company while urging Zimbabweans to use the limited available power sparingly, by switching off all non-essential loads.
“The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission & Distribution Company (ZETDC) is experiencing increased power shortfalls i.e. demand and supply mismatch, due to low water levels at Kariba Power Station, generation constraints at Hwange Power Station and limited imports. The power shortfall is being managed through load shedding in order to balance the power supply available and the demand,” ZESA said in a statement.
“Every effort is being directed at improving the generation capacity to ensure that supply disruptions are kept at minimum levels.”
ZESA said power cuts would be experienced between peak periods of 5AM to 10AM and 5PM to 10PM, although warning that “the durations may be longer in the event of increased power shortfall to avoid the collapse of the national electric grid.”
Kariba Power Station, which is already operating at half capacity, will reduce generation further to 358 MW from 542 MW, as a drought reduces water levels at the dam that feeds the plant.
Aging coal-fired generators at Hwange and Bulawayo are shuttered or running at reduced capacity.
Power cuts would hit the mining sector — which contributes more than two thirds of Zimbabwe’s export earnings — hardest, adding to difficulties in a country already grappling with a lack of U.S. dollars, soaring prices and shortages of fuel, food and medicines.
Zimbabwe, which experienced its worst power shortages in 2016 following a devastating drought, was producing 915 MW on Sunday against peak demand of 2,100 MW.
As Zimbabwe enters its peak winter power demand season, ZESA told companies and private households to reduce electricity consumption, especially during periods of high demand.
“In order to assist in reducing the power demand, customers are encouraged to use the limited available power sparingly, by switching off all non-essential loads. Domestic geysers, swimming pool pumps, Jacuzzis and other related equipment should be switched off at peak times for more areas to have power,” it said.
Some residents in the capital Harare reported that they had already been experiencing power cuts, known locally as load shedding, since the beginning of last week.
Kariba has a generating capacity of 1,050 MW after another 300 MW was added in 2017. The utility said generation at Hwange, its biggest coal-fired station, as well as three smaller plants remained fragile due to the age of the facilities.
Additional reporting by Reuters
