power shortages - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Zambia’s Chambishi copper smelter scales back capacity amid power cuts

CHINA Nonferrous Metal Mining Corp's Chambishi Copper Smelter in Zambia has cut one-fifth of its production due to power shortages in the country, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The plant, which produces about 250,000 metric tons of copper per year, is one of the biggest processing facilities in Africa's second-largest copper producer. Zambia generates about 87% of its electricity from hydropower, and lower water levels due to its current drought, the worst in two decades, have curbed power generation, the managing director of state-owned power utility Zesco said. Zesco said last week it would start rationing electricity supplies…

Feb

2023

By WENDELL ROELF and CARIEN DU PLESSIS

South Africa declares ‘state of disaster’ over energy crisis

NEWS

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national "state of disaster" over his country's crippling power shortages, saying they posed an existential threat to the economy and social fabric. "We are in the grip of a profound energy crisis," Ramaphosa said in his annual State of the Nation Address to parliament. "The crisis has progressively evolved to affect every part of society. We must act to lessen the impact of the crisis on farmers, on small businesses, on our water infrastructure and our transport network." State electricity utility Eskom is implementing the worst rolling blackouts on record, leaving households in…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Zimbabwe miners say costs, power shortages dampen 2023 growth prospects

BUSINESS

ZIMBABWE’S miners face rising costs and persistent electricity shortages which will impact the sector’s growth prospects next year, an industry body said. The southern African country has pinned hopes on the mining sector to drive its economic recovery after years of decline blamed on the government’s forced seizure of white-owned farms in 2000 and excessive spending which fuelled hyperinflation. An industry report published by Zimbabwe’s Chamber of Mines, which represents the country’s major mining firms, says the sector will experience a slower 7% growth next year, from a projected 8% this year. “Prospects for mineral output growth for 2023 are…