Antigovernment protests in Mozambique forced the shutdown of two power stations near the SA border on Saturday, causing electricity shortages across the south of the country and in neighbouring Zambia.
Demonstrators arrived at the Ressano Garcia and Gigawatt thermoelectric power stations demanding a halt of energy production as part of protests against the October general election results, which gave another five-year term in power to the Frelimo party that has ruled since 1975.
Mozambique’s state electricity operator, EDM, said “fearing unexpected consequences” it suspended operations at the two plants, interrupting the production of 250 megawatts, which supplies about 30% of southern Mozambique’s power demand.
“EDM was forced to make restrictions to the supply of energy to the south zone of the country on a scheduled and rotating basis, aiming to minimise the impact of the shutdown,” the company said on Saturday.
The shutdown also affected Zambia, which imports electricity from EDM to compensate for droughts in the production of hydroelectric power.
Zambia’s power utility, Zesco, announced on Sunday it had implemented “emergency load management measures” that would affect the supply of electricity to residential customers.
“The corporation regrets the impact of this unplanned power import reduction and seeks our customers’ understanding and co-operation,” Zesco said.
However, EDM announced on Sunday that power production at the two plants had been restored after “awareness-raising work on the ground and consensus with protesters”.
“EDM continues to monitor the situation closely and appeals to the public for collaboration and support in order to guarantee the protection of electricity production,” the company said.
Antigovernment protests in Mozambique have been ongoing since the results of the country’s general elections were announced on October 24, paralysing business and public transportation.
At least 103 people have been killed in protests so far, according to the Mozambican election monitoring group Plataforma Eleitoral Decide.
Protests in Ressano Garcia, on the Mozambican side of the Lebombo border post, have forced the closure of the crossing several times.
SA transport minister Barbara Creecy told eNCA that Mozambican authorities planned to indefinitely close the border again today due to civil unrest, which will have a “huge impact on the mining sector”.
“I have this morning seen there is about 20km of trucks that are queued up at this border post. Great hardship for the drivers concerned. It is incredibly hot here. There are no ablution facilities along the side of the road. No food, no water,” Creecy said.
“I’m told we will get an indication from our colleagues on the other side of when the border will be reopened,” she said.
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