Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe expects over 600MW of additional power to its grid when the various power projects underway around the country come to fruition, a Cabinet Minister said on Tuesday.
With an installed capacity of 2 800MW, Zimbabwe requires only about 2 200MW during peak periods but daily power generation hovers around 1 200MW as Hwange Thermal Power Station’s units 1- 6 struggle with obsolete equipment while the recently commissioned units 7 and 8 are under month-long maintenance.
Power generation at the 1 050MW capacity Kariba South Hydro Power Station is also subdued to low water levels as inflows into the mega man-made dam have been affected by recurrent droughts that have hit the Southern African region.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Jenfan Muswere told a post Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday that his Energy and Power Development counterpart, July Moyo had briefed Cabinet on the ongoing power projects which are part of his ministry’s 100-day cycle priority projects aimed at achieving energy security in the country.
The projects include the extension of the Zvarota Institutions Grid in Shurugwi which is 100 percent complete and that of the Gandavaroyi Community Mini Solar Grid in Gokwe North district which is 83 percent complete.
Other projects in the Midlands province are the construction of the New Glovers 10MW Solar Project in Kwekwe district and that of the 20MW Manhize Thermal Power Plant underway in Mvuma.
In Mashonaland West, construction of the 45MW Zimplants Solar Plant in Chegutu district is 40 percent complete while Construction of the 2.5-Megawatt Guruve Solar Plant is on course.
Dr Muswere said the 240MW Zhongzhing Heli Thermal Power Plant underway in Hwange district in Matebeleland North is already generating 20MW, while construction of Makhaza Institution Grid Extension Project in Tsholotsho district in the same province is 100 percent complete. Implementation of the Zendele Primary School Solar Mini Grid Project is 70 percent complete.
Construction of the 160 kilowatts Soti Source Community Solar Mini Grid Project in Gutu, Masvingo province is 85 percent complete and that of the 120MW Maximind Thermal Power Plant in neighbouring Buhera district in Manicaland province was completed.
New Ziana
