Electricity situation to improve: Mavhaire
By Never Kadungure
HARARE – Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has moved to re-assure weary Zimbabweans that the Zanu PF government is working on addressing the perennial electricity shortages that are bedevilling the country.
Mavhaire said the focus of his ministry was “energy conservation, regaining lost generating capacity in respect of existing thermal power stations and reducing transmission and distribution losses.”
The minister said they were also embarking on new non-renewable and renewable power projects, and enhancing the country’s fuel stocks. He said government institutions in remote areas were already using solar power as an alternative energy source.
“All new tollgates are solar powered. Water heating at Harare Institute of Technology as well as at the United Bulawayo Hospitals is now based on solar. Clearly, a start has been made and I am sure progress has been made,” he said.
Asked about power generation targets Mavhaire said: “Zimbabwe’s current peak power demand stands at 2 200 MW. Clearly, if 4 000MW were produced today, there would be no effective and viable internal market for such power.
“Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects have to be viewed in this context — as must all the other power projects. In this regard, small IPP projects are already being implemented. Over time, we should see more IPP projects seeing the light of day.
“The large projects are certainly complex and require appreciable planning and financial investments running into hundreds of millions of dollars. Please note that it is too early to condemn IPPs yet.”
Asked about his views on the cancellation of electricity bills by Zesa, Mavhaire said. “All customers must honour their bills. The cancellation of electricity bills only brings temporary relief to customers whilst denying financial resources to the utility.
“As a nation, we must develop a culture of paying our way in terms of honouring all our bills, electricity included. After all, it costs money to generate, transmit, distribute electricity and even produce the electricity bills. If consumers do not meet these costs, who shall?”
