RELENTLESS power cuts are scuttling efforts to resuscitate
two major companies here, an official has said.
The Zimbabwe Energy Transmission and Distribution Company
(ZETDC) has introduced stringent load-shedding schedules across the country
that even affect critical sectors of the economy.
Residential areas and industrial sites are starved of power
for not less than eight hours a day thereby negating all efforts towards
production and this has adversely affected efforts to resuscitate Cold Storage
Company (CSC) and Mashava’s King Mine in Masvingo.
Government is making efforts to have the two companies
reopened with CSC having had sought an investor while the mine is at advanced
stage of resuscitation.
The asbestos mine, with a potential of generating foreign
currency and rehiring about 3000 employees, is almost ready to start normal
production following the completion of dewatering process but power cuts remain
a conundrum.
In an interview Minister of State for provincial affairs,
Ezra Chadzamira said the power situation was a stumbling block to companies’
resuscitation in the province.
He challenged independent power producers to complement
government efforts towards addressing power challenges.
“The current situation where industry is starved of power
due to regular power cuts is bad news to us. We have companies which are set to
reopen but they need electricity,” said Minister Chadzamira.
“We have CSC and King Mine which are at different stages of
reopening following their closure at the height of economic meltdown sometime
in 2004. The two companies need electricity for their heavy duty machines.
Refrigeration for CSC needs more power.”
“I have met King Mine management and the issue of power cuts
was topical. Without power, resuscitation remains a pipe dream. We therefore
call on independent power producers who were given licenses to generate power
in Masvingo, to start doing so.”
The power cuts have also retarded growth across many
existing companies in Masvingo, as the use of generators, as an alternative,
was too costly.
Masvingo Motor Centre director Mr Taidza Tafirenyika Mugoni
said although some of his engineering work require less electricity, the
incessant power cuts were derailing all his plans.
“While some of our operations demand less electricity, we
are adversely affected by the absence of power. We only get electricity less
than 20 hours a day and that means we lose more than 70 percent of business. We
cannot use our wielding machines because they need electricity and that is
cause of grave concern,” said Mr Mugoni.
About three different Independent Power Producers have
since won tenders to install mini hydro-power stations with a capacity of
between five and 15 megawatts. The ambitious projects are earmarked for Lake
Mutirikwi, Tugwi Mukosi and Mkwasine in Chiredzi. However, the projects are yet
to begin despite the completion of feasibility studies.
Government is making frantic efforts to negotiate for more
power from our all-weather friend, ESKOM of South Africa and indications are
that the country can get a bail out, any time soon. Herald
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