Category: Energy
Govt is negotiating new electricity import deals, expect another tariff hike
Minister for Energy and Power Development Zhemu Soda has said that they are negotiating electricity import deals with Mozambique and Zambia that could amount to an additional 280MW. Zimbabwe’s power generation capacity has been brought into question year on year. It seems like there is always an issue at Hwange that results in nationwide load-shedding. […]
Govt signs agreement for an electricity audit
The Ministry of Energy and Power Development ministry has signed an agreement with Sustainable Climate Action Trust (SCAT) for the proposed implementation of an electricity or energy audit. What is an energy audit So an electricity or energy audit is essentially an analysis of the possibilities of reducing the energy consumption by electrical appliances. If […]
Crowd-based solar startup Sun Exchange secures US$2.5 million
Sun Exchange, a crowd-based global solar leasing platform, today announced it has secured $2.5 million in convertible note financing from ARPF, a Mauritian private equity fund advised by London-based ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited (ARCH). This follows the company’s closing a $4 million Series A funding round in 2020, led by a $3 million investment […]
46% of Zimbabwean electricity users have solar as main source
We continue with the findings in the 2020 ICT Access by Households and Use by Individuals Survey by ZIMSTAT. The survey found that 68.9% of Zimbabweans have access to electricity, up from 60.1% in 2014. 68.9% seems too high, doesn’t it? After all, the reports we have seen over the years all claim that only […]
Local startup pitches drone use to ZESA and Rwanda Energy
Drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have really come to the fore worldwide with their versatility and numerous use cases that have increased efficiency in a number of industries. Locally, Tawanda Chihambakwe has been at the front lines of this effort. For anyone who might not know who he is, Tawanda is a licenced drone […]
ZESA’s power import solution is not sustainable
Early this week ZESA again sparked outrage when they announced that they were introducing 12-hour load-shedding with immediate effect. The reason we got from them is the one we have been given so many times before we now know it by heart. ZESA’s subsidiary ZPC is generating so little power it’s not enough to meet […]
“Bring back Chibabest”, Angry Zimbabweans react to ZESA’s 12-hour load-shedding schedule
Zimbabwe is one of those countries in which the citizens seem to be living in a twisted horror version of Groundhog Day. The same mundane problems keep happening over and over again and it seems our lives are on repeat. One of those repetitive nightmares is load-shedding and despite the winning and excuses ZESA and […]
ZESA 12-hour load shedding timetable
Below is the timetable for the 12-hour load shedding that ZESA is undertaking due to reduced output at both the Kariba and Hwange Power Stations. Harare load shedding time table DAY MORNING PEAK EVENING PEAK MONDAY First areas to be affected H2, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H10, H14 H15, H16, H18, H21, H23, H24, […]
Brace yourselves for 12-hour load shedding
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has announced that we should expect 12-hour load shedding due to diminished output at Hwange and Kariba power stations. The statement from the ZETDC reads as follows: The ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) is experiencing a power shortfall due to generation constraints at Hwange Power […]
Two big problems with ZESA’s net metering program
Last year, then Minister for Energy Fortune Chasi announced in a tweet that ZESA was undertaking a solar net metering program. The system would allow those who wanted to participate a way of supplementing the electricity shortfall in the country by feeding excess power they made from their private solar onto the national grid. The […]
ZERA now controls the price of LP Gas, here are the current prices
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) now controls the prices of LP Gas just like they do with fuel and ZESA tariffs. ZERA is empowered to do so under Section 54 of the Petroleum Act as refined by Statutory 90 of 2021. According to the Statutory Instrument, ZERA can review the monthly prices of fuel […]
Shoprite stores SA appoints Econet subsidiary to install solar
Some months ago, the Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa expressed his view that DPA, a subsidiary of the Econet group would grow to be bigger than its other sister companies notably Liquid and Econet Wireless (the telco). Looks like DPA (Distributed Power Africa) is energised to do exactly that. Deal with Shoprite The solar company has […]
ZESA: Fault at Hwange Power Station to cause load shedding
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has put out a notice to the nation concerning a fault at the Hwange Power Plant that will limit power supply (thus resulting in load shedding). ZESA’s statement on the Hwange fault reads as follows: POWER SUPPLY UPDATE ZESA Holdings would like to advise its valued customers countrywide that […]
ZESA to compensate for damages caused by power surges
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) will now compensate customers who suffer damages from power surges. The news comes by way of Minister for Energy Zhemu Soda, who in an interview with The Sunday Mail Business said the following: “There is an insurance policy to cover for such losses and a process of validation will […]
ZERA calls for anyone involved in the electric vehicle industry to join registry
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) released a statement calling on anyone participating in the electric vehicle market to join a registry that will allow the authority to disseminate industry information. ZERA’s statement reads as follows : PUBLIC NOTICE Provisional Registration of Electric Vehicle and Charging Station Importers, Dealers, Technicians and Charging Station Installers The […]
Econet’s solar company DPA has secured a deal with Total to power its service stations
Econet Group’s solar subsidiary Distributed Power Africa (DPA) has announced that it has secured a deal with Total Zimbabwe to install solar panels at 15 of its service stations. “We are excited that businesses are taking such big steps towards adopting renewable energy, and we look forward to a great collaboration with Total Zimbabwe as […]
Econet subsidiary DPA partners with Huawei on battery technology
Distributed Power Africa (DPA) has partnered up with Huawei Technologies to deliver the latter’s Smart Energy Fusion solution to be used in hybrid solar solutions for the African market. The partnership will increase and enhance DPA’s product offering by providing improved storage and the company hopes this will increase the uptake of their reliable commercial […]
ZESA tariffs are expected to keep going up
It looks like the 30% increase to everyone electricity bill is but one of more we will see this year. According to Minister for Energy Zhemu Soda ZESA tariffs are going to keep going up. “In order for us to achieve what we are envisioning, that is to provide adequate power and sustainable electricity, there […]
Brace yourselves for load shedding says ZESA
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has, in a circular to customers, announced that the nation should brace itself for load shedding due to technical faults at Hwange as well as depressed supply from South Africa. ZESA’s statement on load shedding reads as follows: ZESA HOLDINGS (PVT) LTD POWER SUPPLY UPDATE – DEPRESSED POWER SUPPLY […]
New ZESA tariffs show a 30% increase in price
A couple of days ago we reported that ZESA tariffs were projected to go up by about as much as 25%. Well… according to Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) circular, effective (May 26th, 2021), the price of ZESA has gone up by 30%! Raised ZESA tariffs vs old prices Band Old Price (ZWL$/kWh)(Inclusive […]
ZESA tariffs to go up by about 25%
Whoever said the only two things assured in life were death and taxes clearly wasn’t factoring in Zimbabweans. To that old saying, I think we can add ZESA Tariffs because we have seen a steady escalation of costs over last year. Most notably was the back to back 50% ZESA tariff hike we were all […]