The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) last Thursday disconnected electricity supplies to three major Midlands companies over non-payment of bills now estimated at $63 million.
The country’s largest chrome smelting plant Zimasco, Steelmakers and Sable Chemicals were without power on Thursday and Friday.
According to Zesa, Sable Chemicals have a debt of over $40 million, Zimasco ($20 million) and Steelmakers ($3 million).
Sources at Zimasco said chrome smelting furnaces were now being warmed up by diesel- powered generators.
Sable Chemicals boss Jack Murehwa said the company was engaging all stakeholders to ensure power supplies were restored.
He refused to discuss the figures involved.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
In September 2010, Sable Chemicals was switched off over a $1 million debt.
Supplies were only restored following the intervention of government which regards the company as a strategic business entity.
Meanwhile, power supplies at Zimasco were restored over the weekend after the company promised to settle part of its bill by month-end.
“We have restored power to Zimasco after they promised to pay part of their bill before monthend,” said a source at Zesa.