by Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe’s quest to realise energy sufficiency is on coarse as the country, since 2020 has seen the energy and power sector witnessing relative stability in the supply of electricity and liquid petroleum products.
The President said this yesterday during his 41st Independence Day Speech in Harare on a virtual platform.
President Mnangagwa said developments at the Hwange Power Station and the significant water inflows into Lake Kariba were set to guarantee adequate power availability in the country.
“At the Hwange Power Station, the expansion project of Unit 7 and Unit 8 which is set to add 600MW to the national grid, is now at 61 % of completion. Meanwhile, a 280MW capacity will be restored into the national grid when the overhaul of Unit 3 and refurbishment of Unit 6 are completed,” the President said.
Following the approval of a US$310 million facility from India Exim Bank, President Mnangagwa said work to extend the lifespan of the power station was expected to commence in earnest.
“With regards to hydro power generation, the significant water inflows into Lake Kariba are set to guarantee power availability from the Kariba Power Station,” said the President.
Informed by the Renewable Energy Policy and Bio-Fuels Policy, President Mnangagwa said that the Government was promoting private sector investments in the sector, adding that an independent power producer, Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electrical Energy was working on a 50MW thermal power plant in Hwange, which is now 97% complete.
“In addition, eleven renewable energy projects have been commissioned and are feeding power into the national grid, with eight others generating power for own consumption. The construction of a 6 million litre Ethanol storage facility and a 500 metric tonne LPG depot in Mabvuku are underway,” he said.
The President said the country was encouraged and optimistic about the immense possibilities as a result of oil and gas exploration in Muzarabani. He said the project would broaden the country’s energy matrix and have far reaching benefits to the economy as a whole.
