EXPANSION of the Hwange Thermal Power Station is progressing steadily with 67 percent of the works now complete.
The US$1,5 billion project is a joint venture between Sino Hydro Mauritius which holds a 36 percent stake and Zimbabwe Power Company with 64 percent, through a company called Hwange Electricity Supply Company.
The project which will bring an additional 600 megawatts onto the national grid has been beset by Covid-19 disruptions and financial challenges that have pushed back completion by 258 days.
“…construction of Units 7 and 8 at the Hwange Power Station is at 66,73 percent against a target of 91,84 percent. The Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electric Project is overally 98 percent complete.
“The power plant design and construction is 100 percent complete, while the transmission line is at 90 percent with 1,3 km of the line section remaining for completion by the end of June 2021,” Information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, told the media after this week’s Cabinet meeting.
The Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electric Project is a joint venture construction of a 50 megawatts coal-fired power plant between Zimbabwean and Chinese investors.
“On the electrification of Kanyemba, the nation is advised that a total of 17,23 km of a 33 kiloVaults high voltage line has been completed.
“An additional survey and wayleave clearance for 7,2 km of the high voltage line was done. Pertaining to the Harava Solar Power Plant, installation of the 6 MW solar panel has been completed.
The evacuation line thereof was completed and the substation equipment is awaiting delivery from China,” Mutsvangwa added.
The 20MW Harava plant was granted national project status by the government and total cost has been put at around US$25 million.
“Regarding the Solgas Solar Power Plant, the nation is informed that 5 MW photovoltaic solar panels were installed. Earthing equipment for the power plant was completed, 28 high voltage transmission interconnector completed and substation equipment is being delivered from China for installation,” Mutsvangwa said.
Zimbabwe expects a total 100MW of electricity to be added to the national grid from renewable energy projects by the end of this year, with an additional 50MW coming in the form of thermal power. Full demand for power hovers around 2 000MW. However, due to ageing equipment, existing power plants are generating far below the national requirement. As at June22, Zimbabwe was generating 1 391MW.
It is hoped that Independent Power Producers (IPPs), some of which are companies in different sectors of the economy, will also produce electricity to meet their operational requirements while excess power is fed into the national grid to reduce the deficit.
Zimplats, through its parent company Implats, is already conducting feasibility studies for the installation of a 200MW solar plant.