The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has pledged to prioritise the mining sector in electricity supply, committing to maintain 24-hour power provision for mines and industry even during national grid supply contingencies, as growing mining investment places increasing demands on the country’s energy infrastructure, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the Association of Mine Managers of Zimbabwe (AMMZ) 54th Annual Conference and AGM in Nyanga, ZESA Holdings representative N. Siziba said the utility had adopted a priority customer policy under which mining and industrial operations would be protected when electricity supply constraints arise.
“One speaker actually confirmed that for mines and industry, we supply 24-7. If there is a contingency in the grid, we would rather have other sectors affected. But for mining, we pledge to continue the 24-7,” Siziba said.
The commitment comes as ZESA plans for approximately 1,906 MVA in firm electricity requirements associated with mining expansion, following 49 large-load applications from the sector.
The scale of anticipated demand highlights the growing importance of electricity infrastructure to Zimbabwe’s mining ambitions, particularly as companies expand existing operations, develop new projects and invest in mineral processing and beneficiation.
Siziba said Zimbabwe had recorded 316 days without deliberate load shedding as of the conference, a significant improvement from 2025, when electricity shortages resulted in load shedding lasting up to 11.75 hours a day.
He said served maximum demand had increased from 1,868 MW in 2025 to more than 2,000 MW in 2026, with ZESA managing the increase through a combination of domestic generation, private-sector contributions and regional electricity imports.
Mining Expansion Increases Pressure on Electricity Supply
The mining sector accounts for approximately 24% of Zimbabwe’s national electricity consumption, using about 190 GWh per month, according to Siziba.
With 49 large-load applications received and approximately 1,906 MVA in anticipated firm mining expansion requirements, the utility is seeking earlier engagement with mining companies to ensure that additional demand is incorporated into its generation and infrastructure planning.
“The early action that’s required from the mining houses is let’s have early formal applications for the plans that you do have,” Siziba said.
“As you plan, can you give us the requests so that we are able to factor them into our planning process.”
For mining companies, the issue extends beyond the availability of electricity at national level. New mines and processing facilities require adequate transmission and distribution infrastructure to deliver power to their locations, making early coordination with ZESA important to project development timelines.
The utility’s current generation mix includes approximately 1,640 MW from ZPC thermal and hydro stations, 393 MW from captive power producers, 52 MW from independent power producers, 131 MW from solar projects, 117 MW from net metering and 179 MW imported through the Southern African Power Pool’s day-ahead market.
Siziba put the generation mix available to meet peak demand at approximately 2,100 MW.
The distinction between the individual capacity figures and the peak supply figure was not fully explained at the presentation, with installed, available and dependable generation not necessarily representing the same measure.
Generation and Transmission Investments Planned
To accommodate future electricity requirements, ZESA outlined a generation expansion programme targeting an additional 934 MW in 2027 and 2,002 MW in 2028, with its broader project pipeline expected to deliver 3,922 MW by 2030.
The programme includes the life extension of Hwange Power Station’s first and second stages, restoration works at Kariba, battery energy storage systems and utility-scale solar developments.
Siziba said the utility was also seeking to integrate more industry-driven captive power projects into the national electricity supply framework.
He cited the commissioning of the Shuntai, Prospect Lithium and EJ solar projects as examples of private-sector participation in expanding generation capacity.
The Zhongxin Hwange project is expected to be commissioned on 22 November, while the Simca Solar project is scheduled for early 2027, according to Siziba.
However, the proposed generation additions remain dependent on the implementation and commissioning of individual projects, meaning their delivery timelines will be important in determining how effectively ZESA can accommodate rising industrial demand.
Beyond generation, ZESA is targeting transmission and distribution bottlenecks in mining areas where inadequate infrastructure has constrained operations and investment.
Siziba identified the Mutoko mining cluster as one of the areas requiring intervention, outlining a proposed Mutoko transmission line as one option, alongside an alternative Atlanta-Murewa route covering approximately 42 kilometres and the development of new substations.
In the Gwanda area, the utility plans to construct the 55-kilometre Tokwe-Shavane line and a dedicated 26-kilometre line for Blanket Mine.
The projects are intended to improve electricity access in mining locations where national generation capacity alone cannot resolve supply constraints without adequate transmission infrastructure.
ZESA is also replacing ageing transformers and line equipment to reduce network congestion and electricity losses. Siziba said the utility was working with Standard Bank on a proposed 400-kV transmission line from Hwange to Ukuni, while projects including Tokwe-Bikita and Alaska-Karoi had been completed.
Tariffs and Private-Sector Partnerships
Despite improvements in supply, electricity costs remain a major consideration for mining companies, particularly those undertaking energy-intensive mineral processing.
Siziba said Zimbabwe’s electricity tariff stood at 16.07 US cents per kWh, attributing regional differences in electricity prices to generation costs, government subsidies, country risk and currency considerations.
He cited Angola and Tanzania as examples of countries benefiting from substantial hydropower resources, while Zimbabwe continues to carry the costs of maintaining capital-intensive thermal generation infrastructure, including ageing equipment at Hwange.
ZESA is seeking to increase the contribution of renewable energy to its generation mix, which Siziba said would help improve the overall cost structure.
He also referred to a World Bank cost-of-service study completed in 2023, which projected a tariff of 22.33 US cents per kWh for 2026, saying ZESA had maintained the existing 16.07 US cents through operational efficiencies.
The utility is also encouraging mining companies to declare their captive power investments and explore opportunities for cooperation through power purchase agreements, wheeling arrangements and shared grid infrastructure.
Siziba expressed concern that some mining companies were developing captive power plants without formally notifying ZESA, making it difficult for the utility to accurately assess available generation and plan future supply.
He said greater disclosure would help ZESA incorporate privately generated electricity into its planning and identify opportunities for cooperation between mining companies and the national utility.
To reduce the cost of connecting new projects to the grid, ZESA has also cut several connection-related charges. Siziba said grid impact assessment fees had been reduced by 50%, generator connection fees by 73%, demand connection fees by at least 61%, and transmission connection agreement fees by 20%.
The utility is developing an online portal to simplify applications for new grid connections and increases in electricity capacity. It also offers bridging finance arrangements under which ZESA meets electricity infrastructure development costs upfront on behalf of mining companies.
Meanwhile, concerns over the potential impact of El Niño-related drought conditions on Kariba’s hydroelectric generation have prompted the utility to pursue water conservation measures and additional regional imports.
Siziba said ZESA was managing water utilisation at Kariba, participating in the Southern African Power Pool’s day-ahead market and securing additional electricity through arrangements with Mozambique’s Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa.
He said Zimbabwe had received an allocation of approximately 18 billion cubic metres of water for 2026, but the utility intended to conserve water to support generation during periods of reduced inflows.
For the mining industry, the central issue will be whether the promised priority supply can be sustained as electricity requirements increase and whether planned generation and transmission investments are delivered on schedule.
With mining already accounting for nearly a quarter of national electricity consumption and further expansion requirements emerging, the relationship between ZESA and mining companies will be increasingly important to the country’s production and mineral beneficiation ambitions.
