In what would be a major boost to Zimbabwe’s industrialisation and modernisation journey, Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8 are almost complete with 88,29 percent of work having been done as at May 31, 2022.
The two units are expected to add 600 megawatts to the national grid when completed, in what would help end power cuts and also satiate the appetite for consistent energy supply to mining companies and lure foreign direct investment.
Since coming to power President Mnangagwa has made infrastructural development his key mandate with power generation the bedrock of both present and future investments.
In that vein, his administration has poured billions of dollars into capacitating power projects that include the Kariba Dam hydroelectricity project that was completed in 2018 and the Hwange Thermal Power expansion.
Also in the pipeline is the Batoka Gorge power project that will see Zimbabwe becoming energy sufficient with enough for exports.
As part of industrialisation, envisaged in the National Development Strategy 1, power is a key pillar as the country moves closer to achieving President Mnangagwa’s Vision for the country to become an upper middle class economy by 2030.
Apart from Hwange Thermal Power Station, the country has an array of power projects that are taking place across the country and are at various stages of completion. These include the Harava Solar Project in Seke and the Geo Pomona waste-to-energy project among a host of projects that will feed into the national power grid.
The completion of the two units at Hwange will thus significantly reduce the power supply deficit and positively impact on Zimbabwe’s energy import bill, with the ultimate goal of the country of becoming a net exporter of power into the region being achieved.
Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) projects site manager, Engineer Forbes Chanakira, said despite setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the expansion project will soon be complete.
“Despite the fact that the project was affected by Covid-19, the project progress currently stands at 88.29 percent as at the end of May 2022,” he said.
“Engineering designs have been completed. Procurement of materials and equipment required for construction now stands at 98 percent, indicating that most of the required goods are now on site and being installed into position.
“Commissioning of most of the completed sub-systems commenced at the beginning of February 2022 and the process is still ongoing. Currently, systems such as the water treatment plant which produces water required for boiler operations are being commissioned.”