Zimbabwe has obtained an additional 100MW from Mozambique,
effective October 1, 2019, as Government continues to address power shortages
that have resulted in long hours of load-shedding.
Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune
Chasi, who was in Maputo last week where he met that county’s Energy Minister
Ernesto Max Tonela, confirmed the development on his Twitter handle yesterday.
“I was in Maputo last week where I met the Energy minister.
I got 100MW,” said Minister Chasi. He however, was not picking his mobile phone
when contacted to shed more light on the deal.
However, reliable sources at ZESA Holdings confirmed the
deal. “Yes, it is true that Zimbabwe has signed an agreement with its neighbour
Mozambique. We will start getting the 100MW from October 1, and it is our hope
that the deal will go a long way in improving the power situation in the
country,” said the source on condition of anonymity.
“You see, as far as we are concerned, every megawatt that
we get is an improvement, but our challenge at the moment is that once we get
additional power, some power plants break down leaving us in the same situation
as we were before the additional power.
“However, as a power utility we are working tirelessly to
ensure the power situation improves.”
Mozambique’s main power utility, Hidroelectrica de Cahora
Bassa (HCB) is presently exporting 50MW to Zimbabwe and the new deal will take
the total to 150MW. The anticipated increase in power imports from Maputo is a
culmination of engagements initiated by President Mnangagwa when he met his
Mozambican counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi on the sidelines of the 12th
edition of the US-Africa Business Summit in June.
South Africa, which used to give Zimbabwe up to 300MW, is
now providing electricity depending on what Harare has paid for. Zimbabwe owes South Africa’s Eskom and HCB about US$74
million.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe was generating 634MW at its plants;
Hwange (470MW), Kariba (173MW), and nothing from Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo
thermal power stations.
Meanwhile, Minister Chasi said he has received over 450 CVs
from people wanting to be considered for boards for departments under his
ministry.
“A whooping 450 something CVs received. Sorting them out
ends today (yesterday). Meantime, I have appointed an interim board for ZESA
chaired by Prof (Ashok) Chakravarti, a renowned economist,” he said.
Minister Chasi fired the entire ZESA board on July 6 on
allegations of failing to “appreciate the urgency of the situation we are in”
Herald
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