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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter

The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) on Friday received International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification for environmental, quality and safety assurance.

This shows management commitment not only to excellence in the provision of goods and services but also a commitment in providing a better and safer environment for workers.

The power utility is on course to fulfilling the National Development Strategy, a policy framework that is geared towards realising the ideals of Vision 2030 to create a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society with electricity being a key enabler of the Zimbabwean economy. 

Speaking on behalf of The Executive chairman of ZESA Holdings, Dr Sydney Gata, (ZESA) Holdings deputy board chairperson Tsitsi Makova said the ISO certification was a cause for celebration for the power utility.

She was speaking during Zimbabwe Power Company Integrated Management System Certification Ceremony held in Harare.

“Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) will today receive recertification in the Quality Management System (ISO 9001), Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), and a new Certification in Occupational Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001) from the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ). 

Following an audit and assessment by SAZ, ZPC was found to have successfully fulfilled the requirements of the three standards, and we celebrate this major milestone for ZPC Management and Staff under the theme: “Powering Zimbabwe into the future through Integrated Management Systems,” she said.

She said the certification comes at a time when the nation awaits the completion of yet another mega expansion project of the Hwange Power Station which officially commenced on the 27th of June 2018, 

The USD$1.5 Billion project will discharge the first 300MW into the grid in November this year via Unit 7, while unit 8 will come on board in April 2023 to give a total of 600MW of electricity into the national grid.

The Hwange Expansion project is coming against the backdrop of the successful completion of the extension of the Kariba South Hydro Power Station by 300MW at the cost of $533Million. The project has gone a long way to stabilise the electricity national grid.

ZPC Acting managing director Eng Kenneth Maswera said the event marks a significant milestone in our commitment to achieving and maintaining Zero Harm to people, environment, property and communities through appropriate risk management programs aided by the use of Integrated Management Systems (IMS). 

“These Management Systems have become an integral part of what we do as ZPC, and are applied in our everyday business processes at all levels within the organisation so that we continuously improve in every aspect of power generation and related services,” he said.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an independent, non-Governmental international organisation with a membership of 163 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.