COVID-19 stalls Hwange power station expansion

Hwange (New Ziana) -The outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China is delaying the manufacture of equipment to be used in the renovation of the Hwange Thermal Power Station.

The COVID-19, which was first detected in Wuhan, a city in Eastern China in late December last year and has so far affected 109 countries and territories around the world.

Since then the disease has hit approximately 80 565 people in mainland China, killing 3 015.

South Korea, Italy and Iran are experiencing the most widespread outbreaks of the disease outside of China.

Presidential Affairs Minister responsible for Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo said the delay in the manufacture and mobilisation of equipment in China was negatively affecting developments at Hwange Power Station.

“The effects of Corona virus in China has also caused the limited inter movement of equipment between provinces in China. Some companies are unable to access parts for manufacturing which as a result is delaying the production of equipment,” he said during tour of Hwange power station.

The Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project is one of the government’s 100-Day Cycle programmes that guarantees job creation, empowerment of communities, poverty reduction and ultimately improved livelihoods of people.

Dr Gumbo said the programme would result in the realization of developmental goals as set out in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and subsequently the attainment of vision 2030.

“The expansion of the Hwange Power Station will see an additional 600 Megawatts added to the national grid which will solve the problem of load shedding which has become prevalent,” he said.
New Ziana