Energy Minister Peter Kapala says ZESCO will next month commence with the exportation of 100MW electricity to Zimbabwe under a five years deal.
In a statement published on his Facebook page, Mr Kapala noted that power from the Kafue Gorge Lower will be exported to Zimbabwe and Namibia through contracts signed in the last few months.
He added that Zimbabwe is currently facing a critical shortage of power because of the local power shortfall which has been worsened by the depressed generation at Hwange and Harare thermal power stations, including the loss of one unit, that is unit 6, that produces 125MW at Kariba Power Station.
The Minister explained that Zimbabwe Power Company – ZESA’s power generation arm is currently producing 1 201MW at its five power stations against peak winter season demand of 2 200MW, and last week, the biggest power generation plant in Zimbabwe, Kariba South, was generating only 758MW against an installed capacity of 1 050MW while Hwange Power Station was generating 411MW against an installed capacity of 920MW.
“This has forced the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to facilitate the creation of a group of intensive energy users to finance power imports from the region,” he said
And Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) Acting Managing Director Howard Choga told Zimbabwean media that the power imports were imminent.
“We signed power import deals with Zambia a long time ago, but we had not been getting electricity from that country because of cash flow challenges. Now, because we have prepaid, we expect this to be settled in the coming weeks and we will start receiving 100MW from Zambia. We have to prepay them a month before we receive the electricity,” he explained
Mr Choga added that the power import deal with ZESCO has a three to five-years tenure, as the negotiations with ZESCO were premised on Zimbabwe making pre-payments for the 100 MW, which will come from Kafue Gorge Lower and the condition precedent is that ZESA has to pay monthly deposits of USD 6.3 million to enjoy the facility.
He noted that the task of importing electricity from Zambia was led by a delegation to its subsidiaries namely, the energy generating company Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and other subsidiaries such as the investment branch ZESA Enterprises (ZENT) and internet provider PowerTel Communications (Private) Limited.
“ZESA is the only electricity generator and supplier for the public grid which represents Zimbabwe in the Southern African Power Pool,” he said
Mr Choga noted that Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, (ZESA) whose official name is ZESA Holdings (Private) Limited, is a state-owned company whose task is to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity in Zimbabwe.
Power generation is the only place PF and lungu did work that they were getting salaries for……………
Are you without shame. I’m sure you never left your village until you went to college/university in Lusaka. The villager is still in you.
De ja vu
Where else did PF and lungu do any recommendable work ????
I know you are as thick as dogs sh.it , but even you can see how bad lungus rule was……….
Ramaphosa in his energy crisis address mentioned that South Africa will be importing power from Zambia and Mozambique. Make some money but invest it in rural electrification. My villagehas no electricity yet the powerlines pass over our rondavels. Ati kupusa
They criticised us for selling power, they are now doing the same. These sex tape upnd members are a problem
How did Mary chirwa get her job? We know she made some videos with hh to land that position. Remember I told you after elections that I worked for OP and have alot of dirt on all upnd senior leaders. One video is out, 200 more to go
@2, you are sport one, these extra profits should certainly go to electrifying the rest of the country. This will also help us fight deforestation as most people continue to use charcoal.
As a sidenote, well done to the PF for the power generation, albeit it being smeared with alleged inflated costs.
I’m glad my village is fully electrified (if you can afford it). Thanks to God for the Musonda Falls.
Deja Vu, electrified by whom?
Chiza We get power from the Musonda Falls which is run by ZESCO. That’s my answer.
Forget about Zim sell to SA they pay more
Thats not correct, electricity is prized the same. Either way, our electricity has to pass through Zimbabwe to get to SA, it still needs to be transmitted through electric poles. Electricity doesn’t fly in a plane, LOL.
Priced, as opposed to prized.
ZESCO will get more money supplying Zimbabwe……….
Zimbabwe doesnt pay immediately. At one time they owed Zambia for over 10 years. Balibe ndalama. Botswana and South Africa pay promptly
Good money !! atleast we all know it will now be used prudently by the New Dawn Govt…
Kudos to PF, UPND has proudly discovered that PF left dollars in the form of electricity. Use the dollars to invest in Nickel Mining Project to generate more Dollars. ECL and your team, job well done.
Former energy minister Nkuwa confidently declared that he was ready to have his cut off if there would be any more load shedding.
Zambia should take note that The Netherlands is a European country whose economy is only hinged on agriculture and agro-industries. Yet Zambia’s economy has been driven by 1) the non-renewable mining industries; 2) backed by sustainable agriculture, 3) export of timber and 4) honey. South Africa’s quest for importation of hydro-electric power from Zambia is a welcome factor that should prompt us to construct more power stations along the Luapula and Kalungwishi rivers so as to enhance the export of more power in the SADC region. The current harassment of political opponents is a sign of FEAR which must end. Let us focus our attention on construction of economically viable infrastructures for our future prosperity.
Good points…. I hope we can sit around the table with the Congolese government for such projects.
Job well done Honourable Matthew Nkhuwa. As you promised Zambians, load shedding is now a thing of the past. This is your legacy.
Chiza Chirwa your wrong there is sadc grid power lines currently operational from Zambia through both Botswana or Namibia for several decades to SA, as for power rates ZESCO can charge what ever they want to any country , Its supply and demand and SA needs the most so they pay the most, Remember the power ships parked in Mozambique , they charged what the market can bear. as for Zim they don’t pay their bills on time. its our resource so we should get top dollar for it.
Government should put up infrastructure that will enable Zambians install solar energy on their rooftops for their domestic use and sell surplus to ZESCO. This will enable Zambians to invest wisely. The demand for solar energy will attract investment in solar energy panel manufacturing industry. This is what we imply when we say Zambians should participate in the growth of the economy. Foreign investment globetrotting will not take us anywhere.
It is a good idea but the technicalities around connections to the grid are a major challenge. That in itself needs investment.
IAM BEHIND HERE ,IS INPORTING OR EXPORTING?KKKKKKKKKK WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF 40000 WITHOUT ELECTRICITY NOW MAY BE HALF OF THAT AND YOU WANT TO EXPORT.COME YOU GUYS BE SERIOUS WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING.BEGIN WITH JERUSALEM AND THEN TO THE OUTER MOST.TODAY JUST TO BE CONNECTED IT IS TAKING CENTURIES AND YOU WANT EXPORT KKKKKK FINISH THE CONNECTIONS WITHIN THEN EXPORT SEE WHAT YOU WILL REMAIN WITH.