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George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Work on the US$14,5 million Lake Mutirikwi 5MW mini-hydro power plant is progressing according to plan and is now 70 percent complete, raising hopes that the scheduled commissioning date of 30 November this year will be met.
The mini-hydro station being rolled out by Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company is one the many development projects being undertaken in Masvingo with support from President Mnangagwa’s Government which is targeting the achievement of Vision 2030.
Power from the station, around 0,5 percent the size of Kariba South, will be fed into the national grid and is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to continuously lean towards clean energy in line with global trends where there has been a shift to eco-friendly sources of energy to contain global warming.
Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company projects executive coordinator Mr Hubert Chipfumbu yesterday confirmed that work on the station was going according to plan with switching on of turbines to commercially produce power scheduled for November 30.
Key equipment had already been delivered from Europe, China and South Africa, giving impetus to the station that has created hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for communities around Lake Mutirikwi.
‘’We have already taken delivery of sleeve valves from South Africa, while the penstock and overhead crane have also been delivered from China and we are very happy that everything is going according to plan putting us in line to complete the project and have it commissioned on the scheduled November 30 2023 date,’’ said Mr Chipfumbu.
‘’We are also excited to announce that we have also already taken delivery of electromechanical equipment for the power plant from Europe, so I can safely say everything is really going according to plan.’’
According to Mr Chipfumbu, work on the power house was now 50 percent complete noting that the recent move by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to release water for irrigation from Lake Mutirikwi would barely disrupt progress.
‘’ZINWA has been releasing water from Lake Mutirikwi to meet Lowveld irrigation water needs which has affected our work on the powerhouse but the good thing is that there was scope to do other works which is what we are doing now so this development will not impinge on our progress,’’ he said.
Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power executives had a direct communication line with ZINWA officials to make sure the parties worked in unison so that there were no delays on the station.
Government leaders in Masvingo have touted the Mutirikwi power generation project as a game changer that will inspire similar projects across the province that has arguably the country’s highest dam density which could be tapped for hydro power generation.
Plans are already in full swing to build a 17MW hydro power plant at Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in southern Masvingo. The implementation status of the Tugwi-Mukosi station has since reached financial closure with Zimbabwe’s largest interior water body expected to further consolidate Masvingo’s position as a leader in using all sources of clean energy.
The two stations will be able to supply the needs of irrigators and housing in their vicinity.
Lake Mutirikwi is Zimbabwe’s second largest interior dam built in 1960 and supplies irrigation water to Triangle and Hippo Valley estates in the Lowveld.
Online Reporter