Page 13 - AfrElec Week 09 2023

AfrElec PERFORMANCE AfrElec

Zimbabwe’s ZESA Holdings misses

2022 power output target by 7%

ZIMBABWE ZIMBABWE’S power utility has said it gener- ZPC covers the gap through an imported feed
ated 1,719 GWh of electricity in Q4 2022 and and rationing supplies for up to 18 hours daily.
9,111 GWh across that year, a state-owned daily Kariba South Power Station, situated at Lake
The Herald reports. Kariba, was allocated 22.5bn cubic metres of
The quarterly production by ZESA Holdings’ water by Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) for
Zimbabwe Power Co. (ZPC) was 30.96% less power generation in 2022, which is equivalent to
than its target of 2,490 GWh while the annual an average generation capacity of 606 MW.
output missed the guidance for that year by However, due to the regular breakdowns of
7.29%. aged units at the Hwange coal-fired power sta-
ZPC said in a recent quarterly report that tion and a lack of foreign currency to import
its three small coal-based facilities collectively electricity, Kariba South Power Station used up
produced 55.45% short of the quarterly goal of more water in order to augment low generation
70.32 GWh. The reduced performance, it said, at the thermal stations.
was caused by frequent breakdowns and limited “This situation led to a reduction of water lev-
coal supplies. els in Lake Kariba, which is available for power
The company, according to data on its web- generation, and necessitated the reduction of the
site, was producing 638 MW by 12:46 p.m. Zim- station’s generation by the ZRA to an average of
babwe time on Tuesday, February 21, yet the 250 MW, hence bringing about an increase in
economy needs around 1,700 MW. Its three ther- load-shedding [electricity rationing] over the
mals were not producing any power at that time. period under review,” ZPC said.™

HYDROPOWER

Mainstream Energy Solution wins $1.3bn

Zungeru hydroelectric plant contract

NIGERIA NIGERIA has awarded a contract to operate and scored 94.3% on its bid, beating out the compe-
manage the 700-megawatt Zungeru Hydroelec- tition, the Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited
tric Power Plant to local energy firm Mainstream Consortium (APPNLC).™
Energy Solution Ltd (MESL).
The Chinese-funded hydroelectric power Zungeru Hydropower
station, which is being built for $1.3bn in the project, Nigeria
northwestern Niger state, is expected to provide
a boost to Nigeria’s erratic power supplies.
Zungeru, the biggest hydropower project
under construction in Nigeria, was funded
through a loan facility from the Export-Import
Bank of China. The project will provide power
generation, flood protection, and water for
irrigation.
According to the Bureau of Public Enter-
prises (BPE), MESL had won the bid with a pro-
posal to operate and manage the plant at a cost of
$70mn per year for the next 30 years. The power
plant is expected to begin supplying power by
the end of March.
MESL is a private company that already
owns two hydropower plants, Jebba and Kainji,
which currently generate around 20% of Nige-
ria’s power. According to Nairametrics, MESL

Week 09 01•March•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P13