Zimbabwe's electricity debt to Eskom has more than doubled in the past year to R74-million.
Minister of Public Enterprise Alec Erwin confirmed the amount in a written reply to a parliamentary question, adding that the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) had begun repaying an amount of $1,5 million (R9,75 million) a month.
It was reported by former Minister of Public Enterprise Jeff Radebe in May that the debt was standing at R32,7-million.
Eskom spokesman Fani Zulu said he could not confirm when the repayments had begun. The repayment agreement was the result of a high level meeting last March.
In February this year, Eskom cut off Zimbabwe's electricity supply for two days because of non-payment.
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"The situation is looking very good, perhaps because both parties have committed themselves to finding an amicable solution," Zulu said.
Zesa has owed Eskom money since 1999 when its account went into arrears. Eskom has been exporting electricity to Zimbabwe since 1996.
Zulu said Zesa's debt had been "going away and re-emerging" as Zimbabwe's foreign exchange reserves dipped and recovered.
The debt-stricken power supply utility also owes millions of rand to Mozambique's Hydroelectrica Cahora Bassa. It also imports electricity from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a report last year, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries estimated Zesa's debt to regional power companies to be about R900-million.
- This article was originally published on page 4 of Pretoria News on October 11, 2004
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