July 17, 2019

Power tariff increase imminent: Zim Government

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Wide consultations currently underway

– Matter being treated with urgency

– Cabinet recommendation ready by August

Leroy Dzenga

Zimbabweans will by mid-August have an idea of the new power tariffs as an upward review appears imminent.

Government is convinced the current cost of electricity will grind ZESA to a halt if no upward tariff changes are made urgently.

In an exclusive interview with ZTN news, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi, said they are expediting consultations to resolve the issue.

ZESA recently had a meeting with some captains of industry and sources who attended said they principally agreed on 48 cents per kilowatt hour.

Minister Chasi confirmed there are consultations underway which will instruct the tariff they will propose.

“We have started this process, we want to work with everyone. How we arrive at the new tariff has to be methodical, we cannot pluck figures from the air, we need to ensure everyone inputs into the final figure we arrive at. We have spoken to the mining industry and a few days ago we spoke to commerce. I am hoping to speak to local authorities as well as other players.

It is an urgent matter, I am not in a position to give you a date now but tentatively I can say by mid-August we will have sufficient data to inform our recommendation to Cabinet. But there is no doubt that the tariff should move northwards without delay,” Minister Chasi said.

ZESA last had a tariff increase in 2010.

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