Zimbabwe is bracing for a fresh wave of crippling power shortages after the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) announced that Hwange Power Station’s Unit 6 has been taken off the national grid following a system failure — a development that threatens to plunge large parts of the country into darkness.
The affected unit, one of Hwange’s original thermal generators commissioned in the 1980s, has an installed capacity of 220 megawatts (MW). Its sudden shutdown compounds the country’s already fragile electricity situation, which has been marked by persistent load‑shedding and ageing infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, ZPC confirmed the outage and indicated that the unit would remain offline for at least three days, with restoration scheduled for 10 October 2025.
“ZESA Holdings wishes to inform its valued stakeholders that Hwange Unit 6 has been taken off the grid due to a system failure,” the statement read.
“The unit will be out of operation for a period of three days and is expected to return to service on 10 October 2025. During this period, Hwange Power Station will continue operating with three units in service. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this outage may cause and appreciate your understanding as we work to restore full generation capacity.”
The temporary loss of Unit 6 comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s electricity generation is already at critical levels. National power output frequently falls below 1,000 MW, while demand hovers around 1,800 MW. Energy experts warn that the latest setback could trigger nationwide blackouts and more intense load‑shedding in both urban centres and industrial hubs.
Hwange remains Zimbabwe’s main source of thermal power, but it has long struggled with chronic equipment breakdowns, low coal supplies, and poor maintenance. Although the recent commissioning of Hwange Units 7 and 8, each producing 300 MW under a Chinese‑funded expansion, was expected to stabilise supply, frequent technical challenges and delayed upkeep have continued to undermine output.
Zimbabwe’s power crisis stretches back more than two decades, rooted in a combination of ageing infrastructure, underinvestment, and currency instability that has constrained the ability to import electricity or maintain power plants.
Zimbabwe Faces Renewed Power Crisis as Hwange Unit 6 Goes Offline
The Kariba South Hydro Power Station, which supplies much of the country’s renewable energy, has also been operating below capacity due to low water levels in the Kariba Dam. Meanwhile, most of Hwange’s original six thermal units — commissioned between 1983 and 1987 — have long outlived their design lifespan and now operate erratically.
To meet demand, Zimbabwe has relied heavily on imports from South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique. However, regional suppliers frequently curtail exports during peak periods, leaving the country vulnerable to domestic generation shortfalls.
Energy analysts say the latest outage underscores the urgent need to diversify Zimbabwe’s power sources. “The crisis highlights the importance of investing in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, to reduce reliance on ageing thermal and hydro plants,” said one analyst.
Frequent power cuts have already taken a severe toll on industry, mining, agriculture, and small businesses, forcing many firms to rely on costly diesel generators. The breakdown of Unit 6 threatens to exacerbate these pressures, with analysts warning of potential disruptions in production across critical sectors and further strain on an already struggling economy.
“Energy insecurity remains one of the biggest obstacles to Zimbabwe’s industrial recovery,” noted a Harare‑based energy economist. “Until there is sustained investment in generation, transmission, and alternative power, outages like these will continue to drag down productivity and investor confidence.”
ZPC has assured the public that its engineers are working to restore Unit 6 within three days. However, the incident reveals the precarious state of Zimbabwe’s energy infrastructure. A combination of reduced output at Hwange and Kariba could edge the nation closer to a total blackout if further failures occur.
For millions of Zimbabweans who already endure long hours without electricity, the latest collapse at Hwange is yet another grim reminder of the country’s deepening energy crisis. The outage underscores the pressing need for long‑term, sustainable solutions beyond temporary fixes. Without strategic investments and policy reforms, Zimbabwe’s power supply will remain vulnerable to breakdowns that threaten the country’s economic stability and quality of life.
The Hwange Unit 6 outage is not merely a technical glitch; it is symptomatic of a larger structural crisis that demands decisive action. For now, Zimbabwe faces days of uncertainty, as households, businesses, and industries prepare for intensified power rationing and the possibility of prolonged blackouts.
Source- ZimEye
