By Dorcas Rumano

Minister of Energy and Power Development, Advocate Fortune Chasi has said electricity tariffs are likely to go up by next week as Government implements some medium term measures to resolve the current electricity challenge.

 Minister Chasi said these remarks while responding to a question on what government was doing to improve the power supply situation in the country. The minister was the guest on the ‘#In Conversation With Trevor,’ a programme hosted by Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) Chairman, Trevor Ncube.

He said government may come up with a tariff which people may not like, but the truth of the matter is, it has to be increased.

On short term measures, the Energy minister highlighted that members of Chamber of Commerce and CZI showed interest in importing power using their own foreign currency.

He also noted that as a medium term measure, there is need for various terms of power generation investments especially on renewable energy.

Minister Chasi said as a long term measure to improve the power supply in the country, there was need to rehabilitate some of the power generating machineries at various power stations in the country.

He went on to say that there are extra ordinary measures the government is working on to improve on the current electricity situation. He emphasized that government will soon remove duty on all solar equipment to cater for those who will want to invest in that sector adding that solar was a very important component in resolving energy crisis.

The Minister said the Renewable Energy Policy was currently being worked on for it to be investor friendly. He said investors would be applying for their licences online to avoid bureaucracy and as an ease way of doing business.

Minister Chasi said his Ministry would constantly communicate with the public on all issues to do with the energy sector.