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Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) says power demand is the country is expected to increase significantly in 2012 a result of projected growth in the mining activity.
The power utility said the development will put pressure on country,
which currently imports 35 percent of its electricity from Mozambique,
South Africa and the Democratic
Republic of Congo to plug a 30 percent gap between national demand and
supply -currently at 1 800 MW and 1200MW respectively.
ZETDC in a presentation to the Energy ministry, on the
state and future of energy in the country, revealed that electricity load
demand in the mining sector is set to grow by an average 29 percent in
2012, up from 6, 2 percent in 2011.
The survey was divided into the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and
Harare regions and customers were put in four categories- mining,
industrial, farming, commercial and institutions.
Findings on the mining sector were weighed down by the Harare region which
recorded no change in power demand in the extractive industry for 2011 and
2012. The average change, excluding Harare, stands at 7, 8 percent and 36,
2 percent in turn.
The Northern region will see the mining sector grow by 22 percent in 2012
whilst industrial sector and farming will grow by 55 percent and 33 percent
respectively.
“Developments in the mining sector include Maranatha Ferrochrome at 13
Megavolt-Ampere (MVA), Mazoe Gold Mine at 5,5MVA and Riozim at 5MVA,” Zesa
said in a report.
“Future load growth in the Southern region will be determined mainly by
developments in mining, Mimosa and Wel Mining companies are planning to
bring in 15 MVA and 5MVA respectively by 2013 (whilst) Sino Zimbabwe is
planning to have an additional 6 MVA by December 2011,” added Zesa.
Small developments are also expected at Midlands State University, Steel
Makers (Kwekwe) and Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation’s Jena mines to
add to the southern power consumption toll.
The average load growth due to expansion in the Eastern area to 2016 is
expected to be 16 percent.
“The largest energy increase in the area is anticipated in the next few
years due to developments at Dorowa minerals translating to an additional
10 MVA, 4 Brigade Masvingo at 5, 5 MVA, Red Wing Mine 5MVA and Lennox Mine
5 MVA.”
Diamond operations in the Marange area are expected to gobble 100 MVA in
2012 after the Kimberly process certified Anjin China, Marange Resources
and Mbada Diamonds exports, whilst Essar will consume 45 MVA at its steel
production and mining units.
Consumption at Zimplats and Zimasco is expected to hit a combined 51 MVA in
2012.
Small scale mining, which contributed more than 50 percent of Zimbabwe’s
gold production in 2012, is also set to grow in 2012 after the Mines
ministry completes distribution of $1 million worth of mining equipment to
small scale miners across the country.
The machinery - which include air pumps, ball mills, compressors, generator
sets, stamp mills as well as water pumps- was procured from China using
allocations from the Mining Loan Fund.
Mining remains key to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery process, contributing 65
percent of national exports in 2010 and is projected to contribute at least
50 percent of the $4, 2 billion projected for 2011.
It also amounted to 11, 2 percent of GDP in 2010 and around 13 percent in
2011. COMZ projects a contribution of 22 percent by 2014.
The power utility said the development will put pressure on country,
which currently imports 35 percent of its electricity from Mozambique,
South Africa and the Democratic
Republic of Congo to plug a 30 percent gap between national demand and
supply -currently at 1 800 MW and 1200MW respectively.
ZETDC in a presentation to the Energy ministry, on the
state and future of energy in the country, revealed that electricity load
demand in the mining sector is set to grow by an average 29 percent in
2012, up from 6, 2 percent in 2011.
The survey was divided into the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and
Harare regions and customers were put in four categories- mining,
industrial, farming, commercial and institutions.
Findings on the mining sector were weighed down by the Harare region which
recorded no change in power demand in the extractive industry for 2011 and
2012. The average change, excluding Harare, stands at 7, 8 percent and 36,
2 percent in turn.
The Northern region will see the mining sector grow by 22 percent in 2012
whilst industrial sector and farming will grow by 55 percent and 33 percent
respectively.
“Developments in the mining sector include Maranatha Ferrochrome at 13
Megavolt-Ampere (MVA), Mazoe Gold Mine at 5,5MVA and Riozim at 5MVA,” Zesa
said in a report.
“Future load growth in the Southern region will be determined mainly by
developments in mining, Mimosa and Wel Mining companies are planning to
bring in 15 MVA and 5MVA respectively by 2013 (whilst) Sino Zimbabwe is
planning to have an additional 6 MVA by December 2011,” added Zesa.
Small developments are also expected at Midlands State University, Steel
Makers (Kwekwe) and Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation’s Jena mines to
add to the southern power consumption toll.
The average load growth due to expansion in the Eastern area to 2016 is
expected to be 16 percent.
“The largest energy increase in the area is anticipated in the next few
years due to developments at Dorowa minerals translating to an additional
10 MVA, 4 Brigade Masvingo at 5, 5 MVA, Red Wing Mine 5MVA and Lennox Mine
5 MVA.”
Diamond operations in the Marange area are expected to gobble 100 MVA in
2012 after the Kimberly process certified Anjin China, Marange Resources
and Mbada Diamonds exports, whilst Essar will consume 45 MVA at its steel
production and mining units.
Consumption at Zimplats and Zimasco is expected to hit a combined 51 MVA in
2012.
Small scale mining, which contributed more than 50 percent of Zimbabwe’s
gold production in 2012, is also set to grow in 2012 after the Mines
ministry completes distribution of $1 million worth of mining equipment to
small scale miners across the country.
The machinery - which include air pumps, ball mills, compressors, generator
sets, stamp mills as well as water pumps- was procured from China using
allocations from the Mining Loan Fund.
Mining remains key to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery process, contributing 65
percent of national exports in 2010 and is projected to contribute at least
50 percent of the $4, 2 billion projected for 2011.
It also amounted to 11, 2 percent of GDP in 2010 and around 13 percent in
2011. COMZ projects a contribution of 22 percent by 2014.
