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Zim told to conserve electricity
Mail & Guardian (SA)
February 22, 2008

http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/&articleid=333033

Johannesburg - Zimbabwe could save up to 300MW of power daily if consumers become more responsible and switch off lights and other gadgets when not needed, the state-controlled Herald reported on Friday. Zimbabwe Transmission and Distribution Company managing director Ernest Muchayi said that "consumers must develop a culture of saving electricity, particularly in times of critical shortages the country faces currently." On the flip side, Zimbabwe's state-run power company, Zesa Holdings, must concentrate efforts in strategising plans that minimise ongoing power cuts through additional investments into new power-generating projects, or expansion of existing infrastructure. "If we do not look to the future we will be left alone, so we need to strengthen the central corridor and work together for constant availability of power," Muchayi was quoted by the newspaper as saying. "Commerce works well when there is predictability," he said and, this can be done if the nation can enhance security of supply through diverse fuel supplies such as bio-fuel and consumer-centred energy-conserving strategies. Zimbabwe ... is in the middle of a severe power crisis. On two occasions already this year, the entire nation was completely switched off," the Herald said. Currently, several parts of the country take turns to receive power while some have gone for many days without electricity. According to the Herald, analysts noted that while other regional economies had embarked on dedicated campaigns educating consumers on the importance of conserving power, Zesa had done very little on this. Zesa has instead centred campaigns on higher tariffs, which Energy Minister Mike Nyambuya has said are not the major determinant on current power shortages, but lack of investment into the energy sector.

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