Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe’s power supply is set for a major boost as the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) announced progress in restoring operations at Hwange Power Station, with three generating units already back online and a fourth scheduled to return to service later today.

In a press release issued over the weekend, ZPC said Units 1, 2, and 3 are currently producing a combined 212 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Unit 3 is still ramping up, and the total output from the three units is expected to reach 260 MW.

“Significant progress has been made in restoring operations following the tube leak and acidic water contamination incident earlier this month. Unit 4 has passed all safety and performance checks after undergoing comprehensive pressure testing and repairs, and is set to be synchronized with the national grid later today,” ZPC noted

The recovery comes after a major disruption on May 4, when acidic water from the treatment plant caused damage to boiler tubes in five of the power station’s units. The incident forced emergency shutdowns, resulting in a sharp drop in national electricity generation.

ZPC said investigations had confirmed the source of the contamination and that corrective measures had since stabilized water conditions at the plant.

“Swift remedial actions have been implemented, and we continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent recurrence,” ZPC stated.

The company also confirmed that Unit 6 remains offline but is undergoing final stages of repair, with its return to service expected by May 27.

The gradual return of Hwange’s generating units is expected to ease the ongoing electricity shortages that have affected households, businesses, and essential services in recent weeks.

“We remain committed to ensuring stable power supply across the country as we work to fully restore operations at Hwange Power Station,” ZPC said.

The recovery at Hwange comes at a crucial time for Zimbabwe’s power grid, which has been strained by aging infrastructure and limited generation capacity. The restoration efforts at Hwange are a key part of national efforts to stabilise energy supply and reduce load shedding.