Electricity Shortages in Zimbabwe: The Balance Between Domestic Needs and Export Obligations

Zimbabwe’s energy sector grapples with persistent electricity shortages, where limited power generation fails to meet national demand. Factors contributing to this shortage range from energy inefficiencies to binding agreements that require Zimbabwe to export power, creating a situation that forces the country to ration its electricity, impacting both urban and rural communities.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) sheds light on these challenges. During a recent media session in Bulawayo, ZERA’s Research and Energy Efficiency Engineer, Victor Sibanda, underscored the ongoing struggles. According to Sibanda, Zimbabwe’s power production remains inadequate, consistently falling short of average demand.

In 2023, while the country’s production hovered around 1,640 megawatts, the demand soared to 1,865 megawatts, illustrating a concerning supply-demand gap. This gap widened further in early November 2024, when power generation dropped to just 1,092 megawatts against a demand of 1,760 megawatts, leaving a significant deficit of 668 megawatts.

Though imports partially alleviate this shortage, they do not entirely close the gap. Zimbabwe supplements its supply with imported electricity, with recent imports amounting to about 235 megawatts. However, these imports remain limited, and contractual obligations with neighboring nations require Zimbabwe to continue exporting power despite its own shortfall.

The country has agreements with Namibia, for instance, where Zimbabwe exports between zero to eight megawatts depending on availability. These exports stem from a past arrangement where Namibia financed part of Zimbabwe’s energy infrastructure, creating a situation where Zimbabwe is bound to repay this debt through energy exports when possible.

The energy constraints have necessitated strategic distribution priorities. Essential services, including hospitals, water treatment facilities, and security installations, are shielded from load shedding to avoid disruptions to these critical infrastructures.

Sibanda explained that this prioritization sometimes benefits nearby residential areas by default, not by deliberate design. This nuanced approach ensures that vital services continue uninterrupted while balancing available resources. He emphasized that load shedding is not punitive but a necessary strategy to manage the strained supply.

Residential and non-essential sectors bear the brunt of load shedding, with power cuts often unpredictable and centrally controlled. Even local power utility employees are not immune from the effects, as some are instructed to switch off power in their own neighborhoods. These localized power outages, managed without favoritism, highlight the pressing need to balance limited supply across various sectors.

Despite the deficits, Zimbabwe’s export strategy includes selling surplus electricity when possible, primarily during off-peak hours when power costs are lower. Zambia, with its copper mining industry, often purchases Zimbabwe’s surplus energy during these times. This mutually beneficial arrangement allows Zimbabwe to capitalize on excess electricity, creating revenue from power that would otherwise go unused.

Yet, energy inefficiency remains a critical challenge. ZERA estimates that nearly 20% of Zimbabwe’s power supply, approximately 300 megawatts, is wasted due to inefficient equipment and carelessness in consumption. These losses underscore the need for improved efficiency standards and conservation practices.

By minimizing energy wastage, Zimbabwe could better utilize its limited resources, easing the pressure on the national grid and potentially reducing the frequency and severity of load shedding.

The electricity crisis presents a complex landscape, blending issues of production, international obligations, and consumption habits. Without significant reforms and increased investment in energy infrastructure, Zimbabwe’s power supply challenges will likely persist, impacting residents and businesses alike.

The Zim Bulletin