Power shortages worsen in Zimbabwe

HARARE – Zimbabwe, already reeling from daily blackouts, faces increased power outages due to declining local production and import cuts, a state-run newspaper reported on Sunday.

Electricity imports from neighbouring South Africa were suspended last week because of planned outages in its system expected to last at least two weeks, reported the Sunday Mail, a government mouthpiece. South African power company Eskom confirmed the temporary cuts on Sunday, saying they were necessary for maintenance and refurbishment, the South African Press Association reported.Production by local coal-fired generators was also cut back because of coal shortages, the Zimbabwe paper said.Zimbabwe is suffering its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980.It is plagued by regular power and water cuts blamed on acute shortages of hard currency, petrol and imported spare parts.The country imports 40 per cent of its power from South Africa – the main supplier – Congo and Mozambique.The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority is now seeking additional power from Zambia, which shares output from the Kariba hydroelectric dam on the countries’ shared border, the paper said.But Zambia will only be able to help when it has a surplus.Recent coal shortages were worsened by the state power utility’s inability to pay its debts to suppliers and transporters, including the state railroad company, Mavis Chidzonga, head of the government’s power regulatory commission, told the Sunday Mail.She said coal-fired power stations in Harare and the second city of Bulawayo shut down several weeks ago, and production at the main Hwange station in northwestern Zimbabwe is also being curtailed.- Nampa-APSouth African power company Eskom confirmed the temporary cuts on Sunday, saying they were necessary for maintenance and refurbishment, the South African Press Association reported.Production by local coal-fired generators was also cut back because of coal shortages, the Zimbabwe paper said.Zimbabwe is suffering its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980.It is plagued by regular power and water cuts blamed on acute shortages of hard currency, petrol and imported spare parts.The country imports 40 per cent of its power from South Africa – the main supplier – Congo and Mozambique.The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority is now seeking additional power from Zambia, which shares output from the Kariba hydroelectric dam on the countries’ shared border, the paper said.But Zambia will only be able to help when it has a surplus.Recent coal shortages were worsened by the state power utility’s inability to pay its debts to suppliers and transporters, including the state railroad company, Mavis Chidzonga, head of the government’s power regulatory commission, told the Sunday Mail.She said coal-fired power stations in Harare and the second city of Bulawayo shut down several weeks ago, and production at the main Hwange station in northwestern Zimbabwe is also being curtailed.- Nampa-AP