The Sunday Mail
Livingstone Marufu
Zimbabwe is edging closer to electricity self-sufficiency, with nearly all major power projects within prescribed deadlines, a Zesa Holdings official has said. The utility wants to add roughly 3 000MW to Zimbabwe’s grid by March 2018, eliminating load shedding and exporting surplus.
Daily national consumption is 1 400MW in summer and 1 800MW in winter but the country has only been managing 1 068MW, relying on imports to bridge the deficit.
Credit lines for upgrades and new power stations were secured from China, the African Development Bank, the World Bank, India’s Export-Import Bank, the European Union and the Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust.
Responding to inquiries from The Sunday Mail, Zesa stakeholder relations executive Mr Shepherd Mandizvidza said work on Kariba Hydro, Hwange Thermal and smaller power stations was on course.
“The extension of Kariba South Hydro Power Station by two units (300MW) is 55 percent complete, with the first unit being expected to contribute 150MW to the national electricity grid by December 2017. The other unit is expected to contribute a further 150MW to the grid by March 2018 in fulfilment of the ideals of the noble economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, of achieving security of electricity supply through grid expansion and stability.
“The expansion project is progressing well, is on course and is going to be one of the milestone achievements of the power utility.”
Mr Mandizvidza added: “The Hwange expansion project is now at financial closure stage, with the Zimbabwe Power Company and Sino Hydro diligently working to meet the November 2016 deadline. The parties are now in the final negotiation stage, with financiers that include China Eximbank with the progressive intention of ensuring the project reaches its fruition in line with 2018 deadline.
“The Hwange expansion project is expected to contribute 600MW to the national electricity grid, a development that will greatly narrow the demand-supply gap of electricity in Zimbabwe.
“Deka Pipeline Upgrading Project, that carries water from Zambezi to Hwange Power Station, has reached 95 percent completion, and ZPC is now finalising the engineering procurement and construction contract with India Eximbank, with the bank expected to ratify the agreement.
“Re-powering Harare Thermal Power Station is set to finish all finance-related projects by September 2016, a development that will also boost energy output and stability of the national electricity grid.
“And due to the availing of a US$87 million line of credit by India Eximbank, expressions of interests are being made for the project to be executed. It is important to note that implementation of the above projects is expected to improve electricity supply in the medium to long-term.”
