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Zimbabwe blackouts trigger

demand spike for LPG

ZIMBABWE AN intensification of electricity blackouts in has increased load shedding, a term used locally
Zimbabwe since July 13 has triggered a spike in to describe severe rationing of power across the
demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in country to prevent the grid from collapsing and
Bulawayo, the country’s second-largest city. ensure that critical services, such as hospitals and
NewZimbabwe, a local online publication, farms, share the limited power available.
said on Monday, July 18, that some retail outlets State-owned ZETDC said on July 13 it was
had run out of the product, while those that had tightening the load-shedding programme.
it had increased prices. Power cuts across the country have resulted
“Since Thursday, I have been trying to buy in urban residents becoming increasingly reliant
cooking gas at my usual place to no avail,” said on LPG for cooking, while less-resourced house-
Milcent Chikomba, a resident of low-density holds use firewood.
Paddonhurst Suburb. According to NewZimbabwe, before the cur-
“The workers told me that since the introduc- rent shortage, a kilogramme of the liquified gas
tion of the load-shedding, they have not been cost $2.20, but some outlets are now selling the
able to cope with the high demand for cooking same quantity for $3/kg.
gas. Because of the current electricity shortages, “Only two weeks ago, I bought a kilogramme
I am desperately in need of gas to cook for school of gas for $2, but today I bought the same quan-
children in the morning.” tity at almost $3. This is really unfair. The gov-
High winter demand, low local generating ernment should do something because every
capacity and a shortage of foreign currency to household is now relying on gas because of
import electricity have put pressure on the grid the current shortages,” said Mildred Ncube, of
in recent weeks. Pumula, a high-density suburb. ™
In response, the Zimbabwe Electricity Trans-
mission and Distribution Company (ZETDC)

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 28 14•July•2022