Online Reporter
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
The US$14,6 million mini hydro power plant at Lake Mutirikwi is operating at full throttle and continuously feeding 5MW into the national grid.
Rains continue to fall in the dam’s catchment area resulting in sustained spilling.
Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company last year completed construction of the small power plant at Lake Mutirikwi.
The plant passed commercial operation tests and has been generating power fed into the grid, easing power challenges in Masvingo City and surrounding areas.
Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power projects coordinator Mr Hubert Chipfumbu on Tuesday confirmed power generation at the dam was not being interrupted by spilling.
He said the plant was safe despite a sharp increase of water in the downstream side of the dam where it is sited.
“Power generation at the Lake Mutirikwi plant is going on continuously and the power is being fed into the grid.
“Water that we use for power generation is conveyed to the power house via the penstock and the ongoing spilling at the dam wall does not affect this water conveyancing. I also want to reveal that the entire power plant infrastructure is safe and sound and has not been affected by the dam’s spilling,” Mr Chipfumbu said.
