Published: 07 October 2013

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) said on Sunday Zimbabweans must shift to use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as the power supply situation remains unstable.

With Zimbabwe facing a perennial power crisis, anticipated to be effectively addressed with establishment of new power stations in the next four to seven years, Zera said LPG, commonly referred to as gas, was the best alternative energy source.

The country is facing a deficit of around 800MW which has resulted in the introduction of permanent load shedding for both industry and households.

Use of gas has been slowly on the rise but remains very low when compared with other alternatives.

In Harare, gas filling stations have noticeably been sprouting with the commodity costing between $1,50 and $2 per kilogramme.

"The prevailing spate of load shedding in the country is an opportunity for consumers to consider Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an alternative energy form," Zera said in a statement.

"LPG has proved to be safe, affordable and environmental friendly," the regulator added.

Studies have shown that gas is the second cheapest form of energy after electricity, compared with alternatives such as charcoal, wood and paraffin used for heating and cooking at household level.

It has also been proven that gas is energy efficient and burns faster compared to other alternatives.

- New Ziana

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