Energy & Infrastructure · 2022 Data

Zimbabwe's Power Distribution
A 2022 Snapshot

Where the electricity went — from generation to export, through mining and industry, and down to the domestic homes at the end of the line. Data: ZERA FY2022 Annual Report.

86.1%
Consumed locally
13.9%
Exported (NamPower deal)
49%
Mining & industrial share
38.1%
Homes with no energy source

From Generation to End Use

Follow the electricity from the point it leaves the generation system — through the export obligation, across the consuming sectors, and into the domestic customer base. Hover over any flow for detail.

Note on the export figure: The 13.9% exported does not represent a surplus. It reflects a standing power purchase agreement between ZESA and NamPower (Namibia). The export obligation is contractual — it is dispatched regardless of domestic demand.

Values are percentages of total generation. Source: ZERA FY2022 Annual Report.

Who Is at the End of That 25%?

Of the 25% of locally consumed power allocated to the domestic sector, ZERA's 2022 data shows a customer base split between those actively drawing from the grid and a significant proportion registered but not active.

852,003
Active customer base
376,356
Non-active customer base

That is 30.7% of registered domestic customers not drawing from the grid — in addition to the much larger population of households that never connected at all.

What Homes Were Actually Using

For the households that existed outside the active grid connection, these were the real energy sources in 2022.

Source of Energy for Homes
None38.1%
National Grid32.2%
Solar27.7%
Other2.1%
Source of Lighting for Homes
Electricity49.2%
Solar lanterns35.9%
Cellphone13.2%
None1.7%
Source of Energy for Cooking
Wood61.3%
Electricity24.8%
Gas13.8%

Sources: ZERA FY2022 Annual Report — Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, Financial Year 2022 · Power generation and sector consumption data as published in the ZERA FY2022 Annual Report · Domestic customer base figures (active/non-active) as per ZERA FY2022 · Domestic behaviour data (energy source, lighting, cooking) as per ZERA FY2022 · Export figure reflects standing ZESA–NamPower power purchase agreement