Martin Muleya
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has revealed that the country is losing in excess of 200MW to wastage.
The shocking revelation was made during a ZERA review of Net Metering, Public Safety, Solar Products and Installation Regulations stakeholder consultation meeting held at a local hotel in Mutare last Wednesday.
Research and energy officer Victor Sibanda bemoaned that about 20 percent of the electricity generated in Zimbabwe is lost due to various technical and non-technical factors.
“It was noted through a study that close to 20 percent of electricity being supplied to the nation is being wasted through various means. The wastages are also impacting and inflating the demand we have as a nation so what it means is we are generating electricity and importing electricity to support wastage.
“As an Authority there are measures which we are working on like encouraging people to move from inefficient lighting products towards efficient lighting products,” said Sibanda.
This shocking revelation sparked widespread concern among stakeholders including consumers and industry experts. Sibanda emphasized that the situation was unacceptable especially considering the country’s chronic power shortages and the significant financial resources invested in electricity generation.
Sibanda highlighted that the country was importing electricity from Zambia and Mozambique but of late Zambia has not been able to export electricity to Zimbabwe.
“Just yesterday (Monday) we generated electricity as low as 835 megawatts when the country’s demand for electricity is around 2000 megawatts. These are statistics we receive every morning. So we have appealed to government to scrap duty on all solar energy products so as to encourage people to use alternative energy sources.
“From the research that we carried out it has shown us that from the total electricity generated in the country, about 200 megawatts goes towards wastage. Some of the causes of electricity shortage in the country is because of our actions as a people,” Sibanda added.
The main causes of electricity wastage identified included;
Inefficient transmission and distribution infrastructure
Illegal connections and electricity theft
Inadequate metering and billing systems
Lack of maintenance and upgrading of infrastructure
He said plans were underway to alleviate the shortage of electricity in the country.
Turning on solar energy, Sibanda highlighted that the Authority was gathering views on proposed regulation on solar products coming into the country in a bid to safeguard people’s investments on installation of solar systems.
He added that the regulation would regulate and govern the person who will be installing the solar systems as there would be need for a minimum qualification so as to incorporate issues of safety aspects on installation of these products.
Mutare Informal Traders Association (MITA) president Itai Kariparire said while he welcomes the proposed regulations by the Authority, there was also need to recognize and incorporate those who have experience in electrical engineering but with no proper qualifications.
“We have electricians who are self-employed at Green market who were retrenched when most companies in Mutare folded.
“Our government should encourage these people to enroll at vocational training colleges as well as trade testing.
“They should also be incorporated in the 40 hr training in solar installation. Before the economy took a nosedive they were gainfully employed at Border Timbers, Mutare Board and Paper Mills etc maintain and operating electrical gadgets but with no proper qualifications,” said Kariparire.
