Govt to construct seven hydropower stations

Herald reporter
GOVERNMENT, in partnership with independent power producers has embarked on construction of seven hydropower stations with a combined capacity to generate 40,4 megawatts.
Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma last week said the project was taking place at Gairezi, Mutirikwi, Osborne, Tsanga, Manyuchi, Duru and Siya dams.
Zimbabwe’s domestic and industrial power demand stands at 2 200MW against internal depend-able capacity of 1 700MW, with the rest being imported.
However, present power production is around just  1 000MW.
Minister Mangoma said Gairezi Dam would generate 25MW, Mutirikwi- 5MW, Osborne and Tsanga 3MW each, Duru 2MW, Manyuchi 1,5MW and Siya 0,9MW.
He said the last investment in the sector was the construction of Hwange Thermal Power Station in     1986.
“Hwange Thermal Power Station has a lifespan of 25 years, which explains the power shortages in the country,” Minister Mangoma said.
Minister Mangoma said the projects had to be given to IPPs because Government was facing financial problems.
Government, he said, wanted to ensure that all dams with the capacity of generating 3MW and above have hydropower stations, though lesser capacities would also be considered.
“People, however, should not expect an immediate change. This is a long process — tangible outcomes take time to be seen,” he said.
Minister Mangoma also encouraged the private sector to join Government in promoting the use of renewable sources of energy.