The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
Four Indian firms have been shortlisted to conduct a major retooling exercise for Harare and Bulawayo Thermal Power Stations in a move that marks the final stages of selecting the eventual contractor.
The project is expected to commence within the second quarter of next year after the US$87 million loan facility’s financial closure was reached last year between Government and the Indian Exim Bank. The development comes at a time when Parliament ratified a US$1,4 billion loan from China last month for the purpose of expanding Hwange Seven and Eight units.
The Ministry of Energy and Power Development’s director for policy and planning, Engineer Ben Munyaradzi told The Sunday Mail last week that the project was now at pre-qualification stage after four Indian firms were short-listed to undertake the project.
Government is expected to repay the $87 million loan from India within 10 years. Eng Munyaradzi said there are indications that a contractor would have been selected by the end of the first quarter.
“Four companies have been short-listed and by the end of the first quarter, a contractor would have been selected.
“The selection is being done in India and the tender documents have already been submitted.”
The retooling of some of the country’s major power stations is expected to boost electricity generation at a time when Zimbabwe and the Sadc region are facing electricity shortages.
The demand for power in the region is being triggered by industrialization and expansion of industries.
Eng Munyaradzi said apart from additional power, the retooling exercise is expected to create employment for Harare and Bulawayo communities once work commences, in line with the goals of the national economic blueprint – ZimAsset.
Refurbishing the power stations will also improve the country’s industrial productivity.
Industry, which has been affected by over a decade of inactivity owing to illegal economic sanctions, says its efforts to return to productivity have been hindered by insufficient electricity supply.
On completion, the Bulawayo Thermal Power Station is expected to add 70 MW to the national grid. Currently, only 30MW is being produced owing to obsolete equipment.
The station was constructed in 1947 with an installed capacity of 120 MW. One megawatt is enough to power 1000 homes at any given time with all basic electrical appliances switched on, according to the Consumer Energy Centre.
The retooling exercise is expected to be complete in three years. The upgrading of the country’s power stations is in line with Government’s commitment to improve infrastructure and utilities in line with ZimAsset.
According to the cluster, all systems in the country should promote a robust establishment and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure that play a fundamental role in the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe.
These include energy and power, water and sanitation, public amenities, transport and ICT. Zimbabwe currently generates an average 1 200MW against an installed capacity of 2245MW and a demand of 2200MW.
Major power stations such as Hwange are generating an average 440MW with Kariba producing 460MW while Harare is producing about 30MW and Munyati 17MW.
The electricity situation has been worsened by decreased water levels in Kariba and the constant breakdown at Hwange Power Station. The situation is expected to improve as the region continues to receive heavy downpours.
