Business sector welcomes improved power generation
THE business community has commended Government for improved electricity generation followed by a reduction in power cuts.
Businesses say the increased generation is the ingredient needed to spur growth especially in the manufacturing sector which together with others like mining and agriculture is expected to play a leading role in the attainment of an upper middle income society by 2030.
The Second Republic has made deliberate steps to improve the country’s generation capacity with the extension of Hwange Thermal and now the rehabilitation and repair of the six older units.
Generation at Hwange has consistently been above 950MW in the past week, and with the limited rationed output from Kariba South, plus a small input from private stations, the total has averaged around 1 400MW in the past two weeks.
The generation is closing in on the estimated peak demand of about 1 700MW per day.
In separate interviews, the business community commended the efforts done to improve the power generation capacity and that has led to progressive steps in the business sector. The country’s agricultural fortunes for this season, commercial farmers have said, are on the right track because of the improved generation.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe said the increased power generation was good news.
“When you talk of energy specifically like electricity, it is the mainstay of agriculture, without that, we cannot be talking about agriculture,” said Dr Makombe.
“So, with the improved generation you will find that it goes in tandem with improved production because if you are not certain about your energy it becomes difficult for one to produce or to go commercial.
“Like as it is with this bad year, we rely more on irrigation and without electricity you cannot irrigate and with more electricity it means your cycles of irrigation will be improved.
“So, it is good news to farmers the increased power generation but we are now saying when we report faults the minimum turnaround should be minimised as well and if there is going to be load shedding let us be told in time so that we plan.
“Of late there has been quite some improvement because the load shedding has not been bad as it was so we can say it is good news and we cannot complain,” said Dr Makombe.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Mr Mike Kamungeremu said his constituency was happy.
“I have been in touch with a couple of members across the country and they confirmed that indeed there has been an improvement to the power situation over the past week or two.
“This is a very positive development which supports what Zimbabwe Power Company has been reporting.
“It is our sincere hope as the Chamber of Commerce that the positive trajectory continues so that production and business in general continues uninterrupted,” Mr Kamungeremu.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford Mutashu commended the Government for the improved generation.
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