Zimbabwe’s business
community – including
the Chamber of Mines,
the Confederation of
Zimbabwean Industries and
the Zimbabwe Commercial
Farmers' Union – has
united in its opposition
to the proposed 45%
power tariff hike which
they say will reverse the
progress made towards
boosting the country’s trade
competitiveness.
The Zimbabwe Energy
Regulatory Authority began
stakeholder consultations
on a proposed electricity
tariff increase last
week by the Zimbabwe
Electricity Supply Authority
(Zesa), which would be
used, in part, to help pay
for its 300-megawatt power
imports from Eskom.
The Energy and Power
Development Minister,
Dr Samuel Undenge,
commented that “there
was no going back on the
increase” as Zesa had to
urgently finance powergenerating
projects.
Among the projects
expected to ease the current
power crisis is the 200-
megawatt emergency power
plant to be installed at
Dema substation by April
this year.
Meanwhile concerns
about severe power rationing
in Zimbabwe and Zambia
have arisen after reports last
week that the water level at
Lake Kariba had dropped
to 12% of capacity. Both
countries rely heavily on the
Kariba dam for electricity.
Power hike proposal slammed
0 Comments
