The Zimbabwe Independent reports that mining industry
executives ratcheted pressure on state power utility, Zesa, to take decisive
actions in order to protect over 30 000 workers employed in the sector.
The sector contributes about 12% to gross domestic product
and ships commodities that make up 80% of Zimbabwe’s exports annually.
In a State of the Mining Sector Report released on
Wednesday by the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CoMZ), miners said upheavals in
the industry had been compounded by what they see as the region’s highest power
tariffs.
“Analysis of survey data show that the mining industry is
estimated to have lost around US$500 million of potential revenue due to output
losses arising from power outages,” the report said.
It estimated that production had also crashed by 6% as a
result of forex shortages.
“All respondent executives (to the State of the Mining
Sector Report) underscored the need to prioritise mining companies for
available power to minimise production stoppages and output losses,” the report
noted.
“Almost all respondents indicated that power outages were
resulting in production stoppages and output losses.”
It was the first time that a major sector disclosed the
depth of troubles being exerted on the economy by the power crisis.
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