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Speaking in Masvingo recently, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said Government wanted to develop a hydro power facility at the Batoka Gorge but did not have the money and the only choice left was to embrace Public Private Partnerships.
He said the Batoka Hydro power station could greatly mitigate the prevailing power crisis in Zimbabwe that he blamed on lack of investment in new power generation plants over the past decade.
He said Zimbabwe needed $4 billion to set up a hydro power generation plant at the Batoka Gorge which he said had the potential to generate nearly 1 000 megawatts of electricity.
“We are looking for investors in the electricity generation sector thathas been hurt by years of lack of investment while some of the power generation plants are now old and in need of major repairs or complete overhaul.
“The current power crisis in Zimbabwe will only end if there are major investments in the power generation sector and Government has been looking for investors to pour funds in the setting up of the Batoka Hydro power station that requires $4 billion.
“It is our hope that once major hydro power generation plants like the Batoka plant are set up the power crisis in the country will be greatly reduced and we just hope that investors will be interested in investing in our power sector,” he said.
The Minister said with investment there was also a scope for expansion at Kariba Hydro power station where two additional units could be established.
The same applies to Hwange Thermal Power Station where two more units could also be added thereby increasing power output.
Minister Biti also said even if the new power plants were to be set up there would also be need for over $500 million for establishing power conveyance infrastructure.
Industry and households in Masvingo have been negatively affected by power cuts.
Online Reporter