Power exports to Zimbabwe were resumed after US$10M was paid by Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) against an accumulated debt of US$18.7M, according to local reports.
Electricity supplies were suspended at the beginning of the month until part of the debt was paid. Zimbabwe imports electricity to meet one third of the country’s power requirements. This power deficit reportedly affected water supplies in the capital, Harare.
While pushing the business needs of the power scheme, the management board was also facing the challenge of managing the reservoir as severe weather conditions have affected Mozambique for much of the month, causing flooding. As river and reservoir levels rose, releases further raised the river levels.
Control of the hydropower scheme passed from Portugal to Mozambique in November 2007. The project was built in 1975 and had been under the majority control of Portugal as an overhang from the colonial era, despite Mozambique having gained independence the same year.
