Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
A stark contradiction has emerged within the Zimbabwean government regarding the ongoing electricity shortages, commonly referred to as load-shedding.
While Zesa chairman Sydney Gata expressed optimism that the current rolling blackouts will soon be a thing of the past, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube painted a much grimmer picture of the situation.
Speaking at the official launch of a 720MW thermal power project and a 200MW solar initiative in rural Hwange, Gata declared,
“Today I can stand before the nation and say this project will mark the end of load-shedding. This is one out of 18 projects being spearheaded by companies in mining, industry, and commerce whom we invited after the Kariba disaster.”
Gata, visibly emotional, added,
“My body is sore with a lot of scars of being insulted over load-shedding. Gentlemen, I’m torn. I am tired of being insulted for these power cuts.”
He emphasized that the completion of these projects, collectively set to generate 4,000MW, would significantly alleviate the country’s energy crisis.
In contrast, Finance Minister Ncube, during a recent budget announcement, warned that the electricity situation remains dire and will continue until 2030.
“Despite the recent achievements in expanding domestic electricity generation, the country’s electricity sector still faces power supply deficits, as installed capacity is still insufficient to meet local demand, resulting in significant load shedding,” he stated.
Ncube further elaborated,
“The situation continues to weigh down on production and the competitiveness of the economy. Energy demand from industry and the country’s thrust to end energy poverty in all communities is expected to increase electricity demand substantially in the medium term.”
He projected that power generation would only increase by 10.6% in 2025, reaching 10,000GW, against a projected demand of 19,000GW.
“This power generation growth will be anchored by expected reliable performance of Hwange Units 7 and 8, as well as expected additional output from renewable energy by Independent Power Producers,” Ncube explained.
However, he cautioned that a significant power deficit is expected to persist in the medium term through 2030.
With contrasting messages from key government figures, stakeholders are left questioning the future of Zimbabwe’s electricity supply and the government’s strategies to address the pressing energy crisis.
Zim GBC News©2024