Zimbabwe Miners Federation has engaged the country`s energy regulator over concerns that power cuts and load shedding are hurting their operations, the miners` lobby group has said.
The country`s power utility Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has been battling to keep the nation switched on due to generation capacity challenges and constant breakdown at Hwange Thermal and Kariba Hydroelectric power plants. As a result, the country has been experiencing a power deficit forcing ZESA to implement different load shedding regimes.
Miners, as some of the biggest consumers of electricity, often get switched off during the load shedding exercises to ease electricity shortages.
Wellington Takavarasha, the Chief Executive Officer ZMF told 98.4FM News that the power cuts were affecting their day-to-day operations, thus they had to engage the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
“Whilst what is happening will impact negatively on the production, we are in negotiations with ZERA such that there is another contingency that can be done so that electricity is restored to mining sites. Hopefully, the Kariba issue is going to be resolved soon.”
Power utility ZESA just over a week ago warned of fresh power cuts after work resumed at Kariba to repair the dam wall.
The hydropower station at Kariba accounts for most of Zimbabwe’s electricity generation.
The dam wall repairs are set to be completed on the 25th of this month, ZESA said.