Energy boost expected for Zimbabwe, 400MW to be added by 2025

Rutendo Nyeve , Sunday News Reporter
THE Ministry of Energy and Power Development is mobilising resources to enhance the country’s power supply, with medium to long-term strategies projected to add over 400 megawatts (MW) starting next year.

By harnessing Zimbabwe’s abundant natural energy resources, the ministry, in collaboration with Zesa Holdings is planning to implement several key projects.

Among these is the replacement of the unit four runner at Kariba Power Station, which, depending on rainfall, is expected to contribute 125MW.

Additional initiatives by the ministry include the repowering of Units 1 to 6 at the Hwange Thermal Power Station.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference (Zedcon) in Victoria Falls last Monday, Permanent Secretary Engineer Gloria Magombo told participants that the nation can anticipate a gradual improvement in power supply driven by these various initiatives.

“We want to improve our capacities in solar and we have several projects coming up. This year we expect to add another 257MW. In the medium to long term which is 2025 and beyond, we are looking at about 480MW especially coming from the repowering of Hwange units 1-6 and unit 4 runner replacement that is expected to bring on board 125 megawatts subject to the rains.

“We also want to bring in Batoka (1 200mw), Devil’s Gorge (500MW) as alternatives. These should all add up to 2 305MW. Most people would ask why we would want to bring in more hydro along the same Zambezi basin which is losing water, but what we are saying is if we put more reservoirs along the river, people will be using the same water before it eventually gets into the Indian Ocean,” said Eng Magombo.

She said in the medium to long term, they have solar of up to 2 000MW which has been identified, licensed and is being looked at as a potential for development saying the country has many natural energy resources but shortcomings in financing.

“We do not have financing to develop the projects to bankability and into full implementation. That financing needs macro-economic stability. Most of the projects which are at bankability stage, what they need is Government assurance that if I put in my money, I will be able to remit it as dividends or as loan repayment to whoever would have given the money. Stability of our macro-economic side is very critical to that,” said Eng Magombo.

In terms of energy resource endowments, the country has 12 billion tonnes of coal, 40 trillion cubic feet of coal bed methane, 5 000MW hydro potential mainly along Zambezi basement shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia, solar radiation of 20 megajoule per square metre, 1,5 million tonnes of bagasse, wind, uranium in the Kanyemba Area and geothermal energy — Binga, Chimanimani and Hwange.

“Other strategies to increase local supply of electricity include the implementation of cost containment measures that include Zesa restructuring, decommissioning and repurposing of Small Thermal Power Stations (STPS), Systems Losses and Savings (755MW Virtual power station), installation of new capacity: 1 390MW through Private Sector.

“We also want to maintain a cost-reflective tariff regime whilst putting safety nets on vulnerable consumers, enhance revenue collection (prepaid and smart meters), promote renewables energy technologies (grid and off-grid solutions) including Net Metering system and competitive procurement of project developers and promote innovative technologies,” said Eng Magombo.

Turning to the electricity supply outlook, Eng Magombo said Hwange Power Station is expected to run with five units in service up to year-end, while Units 7 and 8 are expected to undergo Class C maintenance.

“The country has been encountering various challenges in supplying adequate electricity due to droughts (climate change) — reduced generation at Kariba due to low water inflows -climate proofing, inadequate maintenance for old thermal power plants — adherence maintenance schedules, aged electricity infrastructure (generation, transmission and distribution assets) with the need to build new capacity.

“Theft and vandalism of Zesa infrastructure targeting transformer for oil and copper windings, copper conductors and tower steels leading us to increase surveillance and legal penalties, high debt overhang (local and foreign) which we have made payment plans and debt restructuring as well as high debtors book eroded by inflation-prepaid and smart meters,” said Eng Magombo. — @nyeve14