Drought hits Zim power generation

POWER generation at Zimbabwe’s main hydro station could fall further due to a drought, the national electricity supplier said yesterday. It planned to increase tariffs to raise money for power imports. The El Nino weather pattern is expected to bring more drought to already parched countries, including Zimbabwe, affecting the Kariba hydro station, which produces half the nation’s electricity.

Electricity shortages have forced industries to use costly diesel generators to keep operations running and have been blamed for keeping away potential investors, analysts say. The state-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company said it had requested the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority to allow it to raise the electricity tariff from 9.86c/kW.h to import power to support the economy. The power regulator said it would consult industry, mines and residents before making a decision on the tariff request. Zimbabwe’s economy is struggling to emerge from a catastrophic recession between 1999 and 2008 and is seen struggling next year due to low commodity prices and forecast poor rainfall that could hit the agriculture sector.