via Zimbabwe hit by power cuts after fault at major plant | Reuters Feb 27, 2014
Zimbabwe has been hit by severe electricity outages following a breakdown at a power plant that accounts for about half its national production, state utility ZESA said on Thursday.
Homes and businesses have suffered rolling blackouts, known as load-shedding, for up to eight hours in the last couple of days, paralysing industry and mining in the southern African country and damaging an already fragile economy.
“There will be an increase in load-shedding until the situation returns to normal,” ZESA said in a statement.
Hwange thermal power station in the northwest of the country, which produces 500-600 MW of power, had halted production due to a “fault that caused a malfunction,” it added.
Lack of fresh investment has left the former British colony relying on ageing plants and a worn out grid, resulting in frequent faults and blackouts.
Harare has licenced independent producers to complement ZESA’s output, but most of the projects are yet to take off because of concerns over investment laws that are compelling foreigners to transfer majority stakes to local blacks.
Zimbabwe produces 1,200 MW of electricity, most of it from Hwange and a hydropower station on the Kariba dam. It also imports 600 MW from Zambia, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to meet current demand. (Reporting By Cris Chinaka; Editing by Ed Cropley)
COMMENTS
“Fault that caused a malfunction”. ZESA is a full blown malfunction in it’s own right. What actually caused the problem? We are none the wiser. I am sure it had nothing to do with lack of due care and attention, after all this organization has established such an excellent reputation for reliability, hasn’t it?
It never rains. It pours down on Zimbabwe day in day out. I bet someone ‘ate’ the money meant for whatever the unmentioned fault’s repair. Who knows what the problem is
OMG What is going to happen on Saturday when “The Virgin Princess” marries the “Pilot”? No electricity Ah well there is always Viagra available at the local pharmacy unless Disgrace has cleaned them all out.
What do you expect from looters.My area has not had ZESA power for the last two days due to a so-called cable fault. When I contacted them after 24 hrs they had no clue where the cable fault is. When I offered to do the faulting for them they became annoyed because they do not want to be exposed.
Failures at our generation points are mainly due to poor workmanship as opposed to aging equipment.Things have never been normal at ZESA due to political appointees who should be doing other jobs not to man these vital technical institutions.
I really feel pity for those who have no backup electricity like I have.NOTE MR CHIFAMBA EVERY FAULT CAUSES MALFUNCTION SO DO NOT TELL US WHAT IS OBVIOUS.JUST REPAIR THE FAULT IF YOU HAVE GOOD TECHNICIANS And ENGINEERS/.
Zanu solution, destroy all industry then we have enough for homes. Its already happening.
This is what happens when consecutive political appointee’s sell off the parts and make no investment for 34 years. At least we know why they went to war, it was not for the so called noble intention of freedom. It was to subjugate the population and steal everything they could. Smith must be rolling in his grave.
For my comrades in the days under the hated mr smith blackouts only happened when a tree or lightening damaged the lines. Otherwise there was 24 hr electricity 365 days the year . That was over 34 years ago. So Zimbabwe has gone backwards. To understand the implication of not having electricity the effect on business is drastic. We want to compete in the normal world who have electricity 24/7 this is a basic .No Business nor investors will ever invest in Zimbabwe for this fact . To add to that the 51 percent donation to zanupf makes any attempt to run business in Zimbabwe impossible. But stupid Mugabe and zanupf can’t see that or don’t want to. I see the demise of Zimbabwe in a few more years where it will revert back to tribal civil war. Like Somalia or the DRC.
Well said Mlimo!. 34 years of ZPF rule and governance and Zimbabwe has failed in everything except for top marks when it comes to greed, corruption, stealing, lying, murder, torture, hunger etc etc.
Well said JT…I concur ZESA in its entirety is a “fault” but then again the whole country is a fault. Who was it that pointed out that nowhere on the continent are the words “research, development or maintenance” known or understood concepts.
Bit like job creation here in SA. Tell a man to dig a hole, you are contributing to job creation. That what the ANC tells everyone whilst on their coke and T shirt whistle stops for the coming election!
Now its more than 54 hrs without zesa at my area ,they cannot find a simple cable fault.What a disaster to those with no backup electricity. My neigbours have now brought their perishables to our house for storage in our fridges to cut down losses on their items.What a life we are experiencing in the 21st century.This should not be happening because the solutions are so easy provided the right policies are there.
What did Zimbabwe have before candles – – – – Electricity.
Now its 72 hrs without electricity whilst I watch these lazy Border Gezi workers trying to find an underground cable fault feeding the local transformer.Its funny to see how they work with total ignorance with their supervisor battling to explain minor technical procedures.
All I SAID TO THEM IS WORK UP PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU ARE COSTING YOUR COMPANY MONEY DUE TO LONG OUTAGE,SO YOU MIGHT NOT GET PAID.THIS MADE THEM A BIT WORRIED.
I can’t believe that happened in Zimbabwe that’s bad for them! oh and yes I am frank Ribery played World Cup 2014