By Kudzai Jakachira
Zimbabwe’s electricity generation is facing mounting pressure as government ministries, local authorities and state-owned enterprises accumulate US$188 million in unpaid bills owed to Hwange Thermal Power Station, severely constraining the power station’s ability to maintain its ageing infrastructure and procure critical equipment.
According to a parliamentary report submitted by the Senate Thematic Committee on Peace and Security, the debt had reached US$188 million as of February, creating a severe liquidity crisis at the country’s largest thermal power station.
The committee warned that the accumulation of unpaid debts was undermining routine maintenance and delaying the procurement of essential replacement parts, increasing the risk of further breakdowns and prolonged power shortages.
Hwange is central to Zimbabwe’s energy security, with total installed generation capacity of more than 1,500 megawatts (MW) across the newly commissioned Hwange Electricity Supply Company (HESCO) Units 7 and 8 and the older Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) Units 1 to 6.
However, the ageing Units 1 to 6 are currently generating only about 350MW, against a combined installed capacity of 920MW.
The parliamentary investigation attributed the shortfall to ageing equipment, recurrent mechanical failures and delays in carrying out major overhauls.
The report cited widespread deterioration at the power station, including recurring pump-bearing failures, fuel leaks, structural defects in cooling towers and frequent high-pressure boiler-tube ruptures.
The situation is further complicated by the absence of long-term coal supply agreements, leaving Hwange exposed to interruptions in fuel deliveries. At the same time, the station’s financial constraints are making it difficult to purchase critical engineering spares and undertake necessary maintenance.
The power utility is also facing financial pressure from an ongoing loan default involving China Exim Bank, adding to the challenges confronting the country’s electricity infrastructure.
Contributing to the parliamentary debate on the committee’s findings, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Senator Sam Chapfudza criticised government institutions for failing to settle their electricity bills.
“Government departments should simply pay for what they consume,” Chapfudza said, arguing that poor revenue collection from state institutions was weakening the financial position of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and limiting its ability to maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure.
The parliamentary findings come as Zimbabwe seeks to diversify its electricity sources through independent power producers and renewable energy projects, including solar, mini-hydro and biogas.
Despite these initiatives, the country remains heavily dependent on Hwange and the Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Station for reliable baseload electricity.
The committee warned that continued delays in rehabilitating ageing generation infrastructure posed a serious threat to national energy security, industrial production and broader economic activity.
It recommended that the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, ZPC and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) urgently accelerate the rehabilitation of Hwange Units 1 to 6 and the life-extension programme at Kariba South.
The interventions should be completed in line with the committee’s target of restoring the facilities to internationally acceptable plant-availability standards by June 30, 2027.
