adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A $13 million mini-hydro power station is set to be built on Lake Mutirikwi, Masvingo Rural District Council chief executive officer, Martin Mubviro has said. Great Zimbabwe Power Company – jointly owned by a local firm, ZOL and South African New Planet Company — have successfully applied for a licence to set up the new plant on a one hectare piece of land.
Mubviro said the council has since signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the investors.
He said work on the project was expected to be complete over two years.
“I can confirm that there is a $13 million five megawatt hydro power project that Masvingo RDC will benefit from. It involves one local and foreign investor working under one company, Great Zimbabwe Power Company, ZOL and New Planet. The project will be done using water from Mutirikwi Dam,” he said.
“We’ve given the investors the green light to start the project as soon as they can and we hope it will start soon without any delay as we’ve played our part.”
Masvingo has untapped potential for power generation, which can go a long way in easing power shortages in the province and the country at large.
A similar project is earmarked for the Tokwe-Mukorsi Dam, which is nearing completion in Chivi District with indications the project could add another 18 megawatts to the national grid.
Tokwe-Mukorsi Dam is 80 percent complete and upon its completion, it will also address food security challengers for about 25,000 families through irrigation farming.
Online Reporter