Govt To Release US$5 Million For Hwange Power Plant Refurbishment - Report
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will in the “next few days” release US$5 million dollars towards the refurbishment of Unit 6 at Hwange Thermal Power Station (HPS).
The move is aimed towards easing the debilitating power cuts being experienced in the country owing to reduced water levels at Kariba Dam and ageing equipment at the thermal power plants.
When completed in about two months’ time, HPS will produce an additional 170 megawatts.
This was revealed by ZETDC acting managing director Engineer Ralph Katsande in an interview with State media. Said Katsande:
The first way we are trying to address this problem is through our own internal generation.
We are trying to increase capacity at Hwange, even though it’s an old thermal plant, and we are working on refurbishing Unit 6, which requires about US$5 million to repair the turbine, then we get an additional 170MW.
That on its own will reduce load-shedding by the same amount.
Zimbabwe currently generates 1 270 MW against a winter peak demand of over 1 700 MW. This leaves the country with a deficit of 450MW, hence the crippling load shedding regime.
