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Zesa Holdings revives Hwange
By Reuben Madzivo
The acute power shortages that have resulted in extensive load-shedding across the country during the past month could ease soon following the restoration of two more generation units at Hwange Power Station.
Zesa Holdings chief executive Engineer Ben Rafemoyo yesterday said the power utility is in the process of reviving the power station, with three units, generating a maximum capacity of 250 megawatts, already working.
Hwange has been operating with only one unit for the past month, leading to a fall in national power output to only 850MW.
This has led to increased load-shedding in the country that has been regarded by industrialists as a threat to ongoing efforts to revive the country’s economy.
Eng Rafemoyo said as a result, the current loading-shedding schedule was going to be revised.
"We are in the process of reviving the power station and by October it must be operating at full capacity.
"We are also negotiating with our Botswana counterparts to help us restore operations at some small power stations like Bulawayo and Munyati," said Eng Rafemoyo.
He said the US$10 million given to Zesa by Finance Minister Tendai Biti would go a long way in kick-starting the revival of the power station although it is still short of the required amount.
"Financial problems have been hampering operations at Hwange and the money given to us by the Finance Minister would help to kick-start our operations," he said.
Eng Rafemoyo said Zesa had submitted a report on their requirement of about US$82 million to the Government to finance operations at its power stations.
He said this money would be used to pay equipment suppliers and procure new equipment to replace obsolete equipment.
"We need money to pump water from the Zambezi River, repair our Kariba Dam reservoirs, which are leaking, and to repair all coal handling equipment and this needs money," he said.
He said the equipment at Hwange needs to be replaced and if Government continued with this financial intervention the power station would be back in full operation.
Eng Rafemoyo also hailed the Government for opening up the power generation sector to independent producers and said this would go a long way in boosting the country’s power production.
However, he warned that even if Hwange and Kariba are restored back to full operation, the country will still have a power deficit of around 700MW hence there is need for Government to speed up the construction of planned new power stations.
He expressed optimism that loans and grants promised by the African Development Bank and Development Bank of Southern Africa and Government financial intervention would go a long way in restoring capacity.
Meanwhile, Energy and Power Development Minister Engineer Elias Mudzuri has dismissed claims that the Government will decommission Hwange Power Station.
"There are no plans by the Government do away with Hwange. How long will it take to build a new power station if Hwange is decommissioned?
"Considering costs associated with building a new power station, it will be wiser to refurbish than decommission Hwange," said Eng Mudzuri.
He said Hwange only needs new equipment so as to return to full operation than decommissioning.
The minister’s comments follows remarks made by Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube that the country could consider decommissioning Hwange once new power plants have been built.
He was speaking during a breakfast meeting where he interfaced with the business community early this month.
Minister Ncube’s comments were echoed by Eng Mudzuri’s deputy Mr Hubert Nyanhongo. |
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