Power crisis hits Zimbabwe as Kariba Dam level plummets

Power crisis requires “immediate measures” to mitigate the impact on the country, according to Energy and Power Development Minister

The Zimbabwean government has determined “immediate measures” to mitigate the current power challenges facing the country, reports state media The Sunday Mail. This is according to Energy and Power Development Minister Soda Zhemu.

Power crisis: Imports required

The paper revealed that these measures included “increase[ing] imports from the region” via the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). In addition, more power is expected to be secured through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The power cuts have been labelled as the worst since 2019, amounting to 19 hours a day without electricity due to the water level in Kariba Dam having fallen below the level needed to generate hydro power.

“Kariba generates almost half of our power needs”

“Kariba generates almost half of our power needs, which is why a reduction in its generation capacity immediately registers throughout our economy and in our lives,” Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa wrote in his weekly column in The Sunday Mail.

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