Zimbabweans can breathe a collective sigh of relief as ZESA Holdings has announced a raft of measures aimed at ending the crippling load-shedding that has plagued the nation for months.
The news comes as a beacon of hope for a nation weary of power cuts that have disrupted daily life, crippled businesses, and threatened national security.
The immediate cause of the power crisis, a technical fault at Hwange Power Station Unit 8, has been resolved, according to ZESA Holdings executive chairman Dr Sydney Gata. The unit is now awaiting synchronisation, and is expected to be back online soon.
“These are normal technical hitches that happen during infancy of any new plants and I am glad to notify you that our engineers have resolved this and we expect to synchronise the unit to be back online soon,” Gata assured the nation during a press conference.
However, the technical fault at Hwange was not the only culprit behind the relentless power cuts. Hydrological challenges at Kariba Dam, a key source of power generation, have also contributed significantly to the energy crisis.
To address these challenges, ZESA has unveiled a comprehensive plan that includes both short-term and long-term solutions. In the short term, ZESA will be installing a utility-scale battery energy storage system, capable of providing three hours of 600 megawatts during peak periods.
“The system will provide three hours of 600 Mhw during morning and evening peaks. This will substantially reduce load-shedding, besides providing some benefits to system operations,” explained Gata.
The project is already in the procurement phase, with the energy to charge the batteries being sourced off-peak. This innovative solution is expected to significantly alleviate the burden of load-shedding, particularly during peak hours.
In addition to the battery storage system, ZESA is also importing electricity to supplement local generation, particularly as water levels at Kariba Dam remain low due to the ongoing drought.
The Zambezi River Authority, responsible for managing the Kariba Dam, has reported that water levels are around 12.8 percent in early June 2024, compared to 29.1 percent in early June 2023. This decline is attributed to the ongoing drought affecting the region, with water levels unlikely to increase in the coming weeks.
While these immediate measures will offer some relief, ZESA is also focusing on long-term solutions to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for the nation. The company is finalising an agreement with Jindal of India to repower Hwange units 1-6, which is expected to increase output from 485MW to 840MW.
“Jindal will invest in four new units at Hwange, adding 1 200MW of new capacity,” Gata announced.
Furthermore, ZESA has partnered with ferrochrome companies to generate 300MW of thermal power, with the first 100MW expected by mid-2025.
“ZESA Holdings is mobilising financing for the installation of about 150 MW of solar power at productive farms. This will ease the demand from farming load on the system, and at the same time allow farmers to feed excess energy to the grid,” Gata explained.
ZESA is also preparing several sites for deployment of its solar power generation, with 400MW already developed. These projects will be developed through partnerships and other strategies.
“ZESA is implementing measures to increase power supply with additional imports to augment local supply and interventions to restore capacity at Hwange Power Station Units 1 and 2 that have been out due to forced outages,” Gata said.
“Hwange Power Station’s ongoing Repowering Programme is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the station’s reliability and output. With this investment (US$800 million), the project is set to upgrade Units 1 to 6, ensuring increased capacity, and reliability, and extending the operational life of the units by 15 to 20 years.”
While these ambitious plans offer a glimmer of hope for the future, ZESA is facing significant challenges, including a negative cash flow variance, despite a cost-reflective tariff approved by the government in December 2023.
“The utility is struggling to meet its critical obligations, including loan repayments for the Hwange 7 and 8 expansion project, Afreximbank loan obligations, and essential expenses such as water, coal, fuel, and spares for generation, transmission, and distribution,” said Gata.
Despite these challenges, ZESA is committed to ensuring that every household in Zimbabwe has access to electricity by 2030. The company’s ambitious plans, coupled with the resolve to overcome the current challenges, offer a promising future for Zimbabwe’s energy sector.
