ADVERTISEMENT

Commodities

Southern African Nations Hit by Worst Power Outage in Years

A coal fired power-generator in Hwange, Zimbabwe, on Aug. 3, 2023. Photographer: Zinyange Auntony/AFP/Getty Images (ZINYANGE AUNTONY/AFP via Getty Images)

(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe and neighboring Zambia were plunged into darkness on Sunday because of a fault that Zimbabwe Power Co. said affected both southern African countries.

The outage occurred at 8:15 p.m. local time in both countries, according to statements from ZPC and Zesco Ltd., Zambia’s state-owned utility. 

The reason for the supply disruption — the worst for Zambia in three years and for Zimbabwe since 2022 — has yet to to be determined. Both nations are facing electricity shortages because a severe drought has sapped hydro power generation, which supplies the bulk of their electricity. 

Power has been reinstated in most parts of Zimbabwe, ZPC said. Zambia — Africa’s second-largest copper producer — was on Sunday night working to restore supply.

--With assistance from Matthew Hill.

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.