And then there was darkness
THE energy crisis currently obtaining in the country is one of the biggest challenges affecting people’s lives and the growth of the local industry.
The country is currently producing around 1 100 megawatts (MW) against a demand of 2 200MW due to a number of reasons, chief among them being the low water levels at Kariba Dam, obsolete machinery and limited investment in the energy sector.
Energy expert, Professor Edward Chikuni, who presented the national energy efficiency audit report last year, said there is need to move to other sources of energy.
“What we need to do now is to shift to other energy sources such as solar and gas to reduce reliance on hydro-power. There also needs to be good energy use, switching off geysers is very important because they are taking much power and stressing the grid.”
Households can use solar-powered water pumps that can pump up to 30 000 litres of clean water every day.
Energy experts maintain that solar energy is one of the solutions to Zimbabwe’s power crisis and could go a long way in reducing the deficit as Zesa is failing to cope with the ever-increasing national demand. Solar has been identified as an alternative energy source and potential key driver of the economy.
Professor Chikuni also stressed the need to improve transmission infrastructure as there are a lot of hydro plants which are not being tapped into.
“One of the most difficult things is to manage energy efficiency. Coming up and implementing efficient energy policies can make it easier,” he said.
“In the long term I think we have to improve energy transmission because there are a lot of hydro generators out there but there is no transmission infrastructure to tap into them.
Another expert, Engineer Francis Masawi, said there is a shortage of electricity in the country because there is no efficiency in the generation and distribution of power.
“We should not be talking about longterm solutions because there are things that we can do in the short term,” he said.
“The problem within Zesa is that there is no efficient energy use, there is no efficiency in the extraction of coal, there is no efficiency during the conversion of coal into electricity, there is no efficiency in the distribution of electricity and there is no efficiency in the way in which electricity is being consumed. There are a lot of leakages and Zesa is losing a lot of electricity unnecessarily.
“We have lost about 275 megawatts from Kariba. If we practice sound energy efficiency we could save 380 MW and no-one will even feel the effects of shortages from Kariba.”
Some experts have suggested that the electricity deficit be compensated by imports but Zesa has long complained about uncompetitive tariffs as an impediment. Competition and Tariff Commission director, Mr Benjamin Chinengo said if an electricity importer is not happy with the tariffs they are welcome to apply for a review.
“When an importer feels that the import tariffs are no longer competitive, they can apply for a review. After that we then go through it and determine if a review is warranted or not,” he said.
“As for local consumption tariffs, there is a regulator who deals with that.”
Mr Godfrey Sibanda, head of Energy Access at Practical Action Southern Africa, a non-governmental organisation that helps disadvantaged communities access energy, says the setting up of mini hydro and solar grids is one of the solutions to the energy crisis.
The organisation provides renewable, locally-sourced sustainable energy solutions.
“We established mini hydro and solar grids throughout the country and we always invite both Government and the private sector to come and see for themselves how hydro and solar energy can be harnessed,” Mr Sibanda said.
According to Mr Sibanda, Practical Action Southern Africa has helped establish seven mini hydro stations in Nyanga, Mutare, Chipinge and Honde Valley.
“Mini grids are less costly to establish and maintain. The establishment of both solar and hydro mini grids will, to a larger extent, mitigate the crippling energy crisis,” added Mr Sibanda.
Working with the local community and the relevant authorities, the organisation commissioned the Chipendeke mini-hydro project which has transformed the lives of communities in the Chipendeke Resettlement area, 64 kilometres south of Mutare.
The micro-hydro station, which converts the energy of flowing water into electricity, provides communities in rural areas with an affordable, easy to maintain and long-term solution to their energy needs. Generating an estimated 25 kilowatts of electrical energy, the project can light up to 400 homes.
A micro hydropower project is a cheap, sustainable and small-scale technology that harnesses the energy of falling water to produce electricity.
Experts say the development of reliable and cost effective wind energy systems can also help meet electrical energy needs.