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(NEWZIMBABWE) Zesa EXPORTS power to Namibia

Zesa EXPORTS power to Namibia
by Lebo Nkatazo
29/09/2009 00:00:00

The cash-strapped Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) received a US$40 million loan in 2007 from Namibia’s Nampower for the refurbishment of Hwange thermal plant which was to be paid back through a power supply agreement.

It has emerged ZESA exports 150 megawatts monthly to Nampower, but the Namibians said this week they want more.

NamPower’s Managing Director, Paulinus Shilamba, confirmed they are close to finalising the power supply agreement with ZESA to feed Namibia with an additional 50 MW, bringing the total power imported from Zimbabwe to 200 MW.

Zimbabwe generates about half of its electricity and also imports power from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, but that still is way short of the national demand.

ZESA has also struggled to pay for imports, with the state-run utility saying it is owed US$200 million mainly by residential customers.

Zimbabwe’s power needs are expected to increase as the economy improves following the formation of a unity government earlier this year.

Messages left for ZESA CEO Ben Rafemoyo were not immediately returned on Monday.
Meanwhile, the government has come under pressure to open up the energy sector for independent power producers' investment.

World Bank country economist Rogers Dhliwayo recently told an energy conference that Zimbabwe needs to guarantee a return on investment in the sector.

"It is imperative that power is properly priced to ensure sustainable private sector participation, and a situation where politicians intervene in revenue collection is not conducive," said Dhliwayo.

Labels: ENERGY, NAMIBIA, ZESA, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:05 PM