By Patience Rashai

Projections to have Hwange Thermal Power Station (HPS) Unit 6 completed by the first quarter of the year, have been dealt a heavy blow by recent travel embargos by most counties due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Personnel from the contracted Italian company are stuck in Italy and are not in a position to travel for the repairs of the power plant.

“The recent travel embargoes since the virus’ outbreak has negatively impacted on the repairs and installation of the power plant,” revealed one Hwange company official.

“Gaustini Power, an Italian company contracted for the repairs and installation communicated that they couldn’t dispatch a team for the repair works due to the travel restrictions, though spares for the rotor repairs are already in the country,” he explained.

However, money to resuscitate Unit 6 which is pegged at €906 218 (EUR) has since been paid up in full.

Gaustini outsourced enlisted a South African (S.A) contractor who sent technicians to start on the work. However, the Italian company still has to send engineers to do the installations.

Refurbishment of Unit 6 which was set to have been completed by 16 March 2020 was expected to contribute an additional 170 megawatts to the national grid. The country is currently producing an average of 1 000 megawatts against a peak demand of about 2 200 megawatts.

Currently Zimbabwe is importing additional power from S.A power utility, Eskom and Mozambique’s Hydro Electrica de Cahora Bassa.