Zimbabwe and Zambia experienced nationwide blackouts on Sunday night due to a surge affecting power lines from South Africa. The outages were confirmed by both countries’ power authorities shortly after they began. Restoration efforts commenced immediately, with Zimbabwe having most of its power restored by early Monday. The blackouts highlight the ongoing challenges faced in the energy sectors of both countries, particularly reliance on aging infrastructure and joint dependencies on external power supplies.
On Sunday night, both Zimbabwe and Zambia faced simultaneous nationwide blackouts due to a surge in power lines linked to the South African power utility, Eskom. The outages took place within a short time frame, with Zambia losing electricity at 8:15 PM followed by Zimbabwe at 8:25 PM. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) confirmed the event, stating, “The national grid experienced a system disturbance resulting in a nationwide blackout.” Concurrently, Zambia’s ZESCO attributed the outage to a similar “power system disturbance… leading to loss of power supply that has affected the whole country.”
By early Monday morning, ZESA reported significant progress in restoring power, stating, “The restoration process began immediately, and we are happy to advise that as of this morning, most of the load centers (regional substations) have been picked countrywide.” As a result, most areas in Zimbabwe had their power restored by 3 AM, alleviating the hardships faced by citizens during the blackout.
The blackouts highlight ongoing challenges within the power sectors of both countries. The outages are believed to have stemmed from a power surge along the transmission lines connecting South Africa to both nations, with Zambia currently investing more heavily in electricity imports from Eskom to meet substantial demand. Witness accounts indicated that power flickered before cutting out completely, suggesting instability in the electricity supply.
Both Zimbabwe and Zambia are grappling with inadequate power generation capabilities, primarily relying on the Kariba hydroelectric plant, which is experiencing lower capacity due to dwindling water levels. Zimbabwe’s aging thermal power facilities often lead to prolonged outages, sometimes exceeding 18 hours daily, while Zambia is also facing regular disruptions that impact both commercial and residential areas.
The incident on Sunday serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the regional power infrastructure, which heavily depends on shared resources and is susceptible to systemic disturbances. Strengthening grid resilience and diversifying power generation methods are critical for both nations as they confront these ongoing energy crises.
Zimbabwe and Zambia share a complex interdependent energy relationship, primarily drawing electricity from the Kariba hydroelectric plant and importing additional power from South African utility Eskom. Both nations are experiencing significant power generation challenges, exacerbated by aging infrastructure, low water levels in hydroelectric reservoirs, and increasing demand. The region’s power infrastructure is characterized by its fragility, and disturbances in one country can have immediate repercussions for its neighbor. Such simultaneous outages highlight the pressing need for improvements and sustainable solutions in energy production and management within the Southern African region.
In conclusion, the recent simultaneous blackouts in Zimbabwe and Zambia underscore the fragile condition of their power infrastructure, which is heavily reliant on interconnected systems and external sources. Both countries are experiencing ongoing energy crises, fueled by various factors including insufficient generation capabilities and increasing demand. Immediate efforts to enhance grid resilience and diversify energy resources are essential for ensuring stable electricity supply in these nations moving forward.
Original Source: bulawayo24.com
