adminHerald Reporter
Construction of Kariba South Power extension project is taking shape while some of the equipment is already being shipped into the country. The contractor — Sinohydro of China — says everything was on schedule including construction of turbines and generators expected to be completed by end of the year. “So far, we have completed tunnel adits 1, 2, 3 and 4,” said a source on Thursday.
“We are also working on the water intake tunnels where we have done 180 metres for the first tunnel and 169 metres for the second tunnel.
“We have also completed the upper part of the underground power house excavation. In terms of main equipment and machinery such as turbines and generators, manufacturing is at 29 percent. They should be completed by end of year.”
The bridge crane was already being shipped from China and was expected into the country in two months.
The source said everything was on course as there were no challenges with project funding.
The indications are that everything would be finished on schedule.
“Generally, the construction period for Kariba South is extremely tight because it took Sinohydro 48 months to complete Kariba North, but for Kariba South, Government only gave 40 months to complete the job.
“We are accelerating the project so that we finish on schedule. We expect the first unit to be commissioned by the end of 2017, while the other unit will be completed by February 2018,” said the source.
The Kariba South expansion is expected to add 300 megawatts to the national grid that is currently depressed, at about 1 200MW against a peak demand of about 2 500MW.
Sinohydro is also expected to expand Hwange Thermal Power Station that will add about 600MW.
There are other power projects, including some by independent ones, that are expected to take off soon.
Online Reporter