By staff reporter

Afrexim Bank has come to the aid of Hwange Power Station with a rescue package of 400 00 pounds for the resuscitation of the station’s Unit six, which had since stopped operating in December 2018, The Harare Post has learnt.

According to a source, on completion, the Unit will add 170 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

“Afrexim bank is processing the 400 000 pounds required to resuscitate Unit 6. An Italian company, Gaustini Power is expected to do the repairs,” said the source.

He said although the terms were still under discussion, the project was expected to be complete at most 12 weeks after the funds have been secured. He informed that Afrexim would recover its money from electricity sales made from specific Units at 12% interest rate.

Meanwhile, government has made a total payment of US$5 140 000 to power suppliers namely, Eskom ($890 000), Hydro Cahora Bassa ($500 000) and Electricity De Mozambique (EDM) ($3 750 00).

The country is currently generating a total of 803 megawatts with Hwange and Kariba generating 396MW and 392 MW respectively. Harare Thermal Power Station is generating 15MW while Munyati and Bulawayo are not generating anything.

The country is also importing 50MW from Eskom, 20MW from EDM and 50 MW from HCB. With these imports, the country has a total of 923 MW against a peak  demand of 1 450 MW, leaving the country with a deficit of 527 MW.