South African power utility, Eskom, is still supplying
Zimbabwe with 300MW outside peak hours under a US$2 million a month deal with
Zesa Holdings, Cabinet heard yesterday. Eskom has surplus off-peak power for
export, but has resorted to load-shedding in South Africa during peak periods,
as it noted in a statement on Sunday.
The Zimbabwe deal covers off-peak supply and is not
affected by the Eskom statement.
A statement issued by Zesa on the same day that
load-shedding in Zimbabwe was now being implemented at Stage 2 raised fears in
some sectors that power imports from South Africa had been reduced.
Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi
yesterday told the 44th Cabinet Meeting Decisions Matrix media briefing that
the contract still subsists, despite the challenges being faced by Eskom.
“Although the South Africans are facing challenges in the
power sector, they have continued to supply us with power,” Minister Chasi
said.
“But in our planning, we have taken the position as
Government that we should diversify our sources of power even from an
importation point of view.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister
Monica Mutsvangwa addresses the media in the company of Transport and
Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza (extreme left), Energy
and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi and the Chief Secretary to the
President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda (far right) at a post-Cabinet briefing
in Harare yesterday. – Picture: Believe Nyakudjara
“So we are safe and sound at the moment, but we are doing
everything we can so that we achieve our energy security in Zimbabwe.
“Should there be challenges in that area, I am sure our
South African brothers and sisters will communicate that to us that they are
unable (to continue supplying power), but as of now we have not received such
communication and we are continuing to receive power in terms of the
undertakings that were made in our contract with them.”
Zesa Holdings said its statement on Sunday did not refer to
the Eskom deal.
“The statement from Zesa does not in any manner refer or
relate to Eskom,” Zesa Holdings spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet has warned fuel stations that continue
to divert petrol and diesel to the black market that they will be fined and
risk losing their licences.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister
Monica Mutsvangwa said during the post-Cabinet briefing: “Cabinet noted with
concern that although the daily average diesel and petrol uplifts for the past
week had increased compared to the previous week, fuel queues continue to be
visible. Herald
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