THE South African Government is considering a proposal put forward to increase power exports to Zimbabwe after high level talks between the two countries’ energy ministers last week.

In a telephone interview with the Sunday News yesterday, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi confirmed meeting his South African counterpart, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Jeff Radebe on Thursday last week.

He said Minister Radebe expressed empathy at Zimbabwe’s power situation.

“We met with the (South African) Minister of Energy the day before yesterday and we discussed with him our situation and he was very empathetic to it. I’m reasonably optimistic that they (South Africa) will be helping us but they will go through their own internal processes to consider our own situation,” said Chasi.

The visit by Minister Chasi to South Africa is his second one this month after having met officials from South Africa’s power utility, Eskom for power talks at the beginning of the month.

Zimbabwe owes Eskom US$27 million, this is after a payment of US$10 million, which it made last month as part of its commitment to pay its debt.

Additional power imports from South Africa will ease the prevailing power shortages, which have seen the country embarking on a daily 18-hour electricity load-shedding schedule.

Chasi said the Government would be considerate of the power challenges its neighbour was also facing while going through the negotiations.

“I’m reasonably optimistic now that I have spoken to him (Minister Radebe). I’m also aware of the challenges faced by South Africa and I’m not going to put pressure on the minister and Eskom. They have to carefully consider what we discussed and then come up with a position but like I said I’m reasonably optimistic,” he said.State media