Page 11 - AfrElec Week 45 2021
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Zimbabwe’s $1.5bn Hwange Power
Station expansion to add 600MW to
power grid by September 2022
ZIMBABWE ZIMBABWE’S Energy and Power Develop- Soda said the government wants to remodel
ment Minister, Zhemu Soda, says the Hwange 7 Hwange’s other six units, which have outlived
and 8 expansion project will add 600MW to the their life expectancy, but in line with transi-
national grid when realised next year, The Herald tioning from fossil fuels to curb greenhouse gas
reported on Tuesday (November 9). emissions.
“There is no way the economy will grow The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and
without growth in electricity supply,” Soda is Distribution Company (ZETDC) in mid-Sep-
quoted as saying. “Therefore, we are anticipating tember had to begin daily 12-hour power cuts
increased generation at Hwange Power Station due to limited generation at its thermal plant and
with the Hwange 7 and 8 expansion project repairs on the dam at the Kariba Hydro Power
expected on the grid by July and September Station.
2022.” The company “is experiencing a power short-
The project, being carried out by the Chinese fall due to generation constraints at Hwange
firm Sinohydro, was initially scheduled for com- Power Station, limited imports and a pro-
pletion by October, but progress slowed due to gramme of dam wall rehabilitation at Kariba,”
the COVID-19 pandemic. It entails construction ZETDC said in an emailed statement, Bloomb-
of two units of 300MW each, adding to the exist- erg reported.
ing 920MW Hwange Power Station at a cost of
$1.5bn.
Week 45 11•November•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11
