ZESA Holdings has intensified its load-shedding due to a series of power system disturbances at Hwange Power Station.
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According to a load-shedding schedule the power utility had issued in June, Bulawayo, Esigodini, Filabusi, Umguza, Plumtreee and Tsholotsho were going to be the most affected by blackouts because of a technical fault in Hwange.
Zesa Holdings issued a statement yesterday warning that the power supply situation would be subdued for the coming three weeks as a result of equipment failure and generator outages in Hwange.
“The power supply is expected to remain subdued for three weeks, after which there would be an improvement as maintenance works will have been completed,” the statement read.
The power utility also said the load from coal mines in the Tete province of Mozambique had peaked significantly resulting in less power being available for export to Zimbabwe.
“ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) is getting power from HCB (Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa) as a result of the constraints to evacuate power from the direct current (DC) lines to Eskom (in South Africa) and these constraints have been addressed limiting ZETDC to 50 megawats (MW).
Zesa Holdings said it had consulted with agricultural stakeholders and a decision in the national interest was taken from September 10 2014 to support the winter crop which was now experiencing severe moisture stress and required a final round of irrigation.
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“A total of 80MW is being channelled to the wheat sectors and load shedding is restricted to non-wheat farming load and domestic farmers,” the statement reads.
It said the Kariba South Generator 5, which had come out of service since August 28, was scheduled to return to use by tomorrow.
“The intermittent availability of Generator 4 and 6 at Hwange Power Station had contributed to the outage as 150MW is unavailable on the grid,” Zesa said.
The power utility said it was working on improving the power supply and urged customers to use electricity sparingly.
“The power utility apologises to its valued customers for the inconvenience caused and would do its best to address the current challenges to improve the power supply situation.”
