Staff Reporter
Government has announced a significant boost to local power supplies, with an additional 100MW set to be injected into the national grid within the next two weeks, the Harare Post can report.
In a statement, Energy and Power Development Minister, Edgar Moyo said that this increase in power is expected to help mitigate the frequent load-shedding experienced during the winter months when electricity demand peaks.
“The enhanced power supply will come from two main sources: a refurbished unit at the Hwange Thermal Power Station and the release of power that was previously ring-fenced for winter wheat irrigation.
Government’s strategy to reserve 100MW specifically for winter wheat irrigation from May to July has ensured stable electricity for critical agricultural activities, which will now be redirected to the national grid,” Minister Moyo added
Minister Moyo also emphasized that the refurbished unit at Hwange Thermal Power Station is scheduled to connect to the grid by the end of this month.
“This development is timely, as the current electricity generation capacity ranges between 1,400MW and 1,500MW, against a demand of 1,800MW, resulting in a deficit of 300MW,” he stated.
The Kariba South Hydropower Station has been managing water resources strategically to ensure continuous power generation.
“Despite the challenges, it has maintained an average output of 290MW, with water allocations expected to last until the end of the year. Additionally, the anticipated La Niña weather phenomenon is predicted to bring above-normal rainfall, which will further support hydropower generation,” said the Minister.
Minister Moyo expressed optimism that the combined efforts of refurbishing existing infrastructure and integrating new power sources will significantly ease load-shedding and improve the overall energy landscape.
“The imminent addition of 100MW from Hwange and the conclusion of the winter wheat irrigation period will provide much-needed relief to the national grid,” he noted.
Meanwhile, looking ahead, independent power producers are expected to contribute an additional 140MW to the national grid by the year’s end, further bolstering the country’s electricity supply.
