The business community has begun to notice the benefits of the increased power generation in Zimbabwe, and they are expressing optimism that things will continue to improve and stabilize, ensuring increased production and supply of commodities.
Acute power shortages in Zimbabwe have hampered productivity in several economic sectors in recent years, and the usage of generators as a substitute energy source has been criticized as being expensive and unsustainable.
Recently, the nation’s electricity output significantly increased, especially at the Kariba Hydro-electricity Station and the Hwange Thermal Power Station, which continue to anchor domestic supply as a result of government-sponsored generation expansion projects.
Hwange Power Station had an installed capacity of 920MW before to the expansion project. With the addition of 600MW from Units 7 and 8, the installed capacity will increase to 1 520MW.
In order to increase its installed capacity to 1,050MW, Kariba Power Station has already undergone an expansion that added 300MW to the system. Assuming that water levels are acceptable, this power plant will be able to produce enough electricity to meet home and industrial demands.
Zimbabwe Electricity Company reports that the nation’s average monthly electricity production has climbed to approximately 1 600MW since March of this year. The power company said yesterday that 1,530MW of total power had been produced. Across the nation, load shedding has been significantly decreased thanks to better electricity generation.
Mr. Mackenzie Dongo, the Matebeleland head of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), commented on this by stating that the increased productivity was being positively impacted by the better power supply.
“Power generation stability is being greatly appreciated by the industry, especially manufacturing and processing. It reduces the cost of production and also reduces loss of productivity time due to unplanned power interruption,” he said.
“It also reduces losses that were being incurred by those in the production industry like plastic molding, whose production is interrupted due to power loss, which tends to produce half-baked molds that at times could not be possible to recoup.”
According to Mr. Dongo, business owners appreciate the government’s efforts to stabilize the nation’s electricity supply since it promotes economic growth for a better 2030.
The government’s many initiatives, which have witnessed growth in the mining and agricultural sectors, have contributed to the country’s economy’s recovery.
According to Mr. Kurai Matsheza, head of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Businesses (CZI), manufacturing businesses have also noticed some improvements in the power supply during the past several weeks.
However, he asserted that the utility must guarantee to the industry an ongoing, sustainable supply of electricity.
“If uninterrupted power is delivered then as industries, we will be able to plan our production schedules and be able to deliver products and services on time,” he said.
“This will remove some of the bottlenecks in the value chain arising from power outages.”
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) Matebeleland regional manager, Mr Comfort Muchekeza, said consumers were excited by the positive impact of improved power generation.
“The events of the past two weeks when it comes to the power supply are closer to what the consumers are expecting, thumbs up to the Government and all the independent power supply for a job well done.
“Consumers are happy with the improving situation. We pray that the situation remains improving,” said Mr Muchekeza.
One of the landmark projects of the Second Republic, the US$1.4 billion Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 and 8 expansion project aims to increase power generation to promote economic reform in line with the National Development Strategy.
According to experts, Zimbabwe would be able to expand production by reducing the amount of electricity it imports and easing power outages.