Disruption of coal supplies to the main power generating station in Zimbabwe has caused power failures across the country, reports said on Monday.
The breakdown at Hwange Power Station has robbed the country of 500MW of power, nearly one-third of its needs, state radio and newspapers said.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) was currently generating 500MW from four of the six generators at the station before they were forced to shut them down when coal supplies ceased, said the official Herald newspaper.
The disruption of coal supplies to the power station from the nearby Hwange Colliery Company occurred after the conveyor belt used to transport the coal broke down, it added.
As a result of the disruption, most parts of the country went without power on Sunday.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing erratic power due to diminished imports from regional suppliers, as well as foreign currency shortages needed to import spares for broken-down power stations.
The country needs at least 1 820MW of power a day, but it is now only generating 730MW at the Kariba hydro-power station in northern Zimbabwe.
Imports of power from neighbouring countries only total 200MW, leaving a shortfall of 890MW.
Rain in the capital over the weekend also caused numerous faults, the power company said in a statement.
Zesa engineers are working to restore supplies and expect to restore power to affected customers as soon as possible, it said. ‒ Sapa-DPA