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Africa Moyo
Deputy News Editor
Centragrid Private (Ltd) is set to feed another 23MW into the national grid sometime next week from its station in Nyabira, about 45km west of Harare along the Harare-Chinhoyi Road, as the installed capacity rises from 2MW to 25MW.
Work started in 2017 and phase one was completed, with 2MW being fed into the national grid from August 2019.
Between 700 and 1 200 high density houses can be powered by 2MW depending on their usage.
Phase 2 of the project has 23MW and construction work is almost complete, with final touches underway ahead of commissioning most likely on Thrusday next week.
Centragrid managing director, Mr Victor Utedzi, told local and Chinese journalists from the People’s Daily newspaper during a tour of the project on Wednesday that all was set for the commissioning of the new 23MW.
“We commissioned the first phase of the project, which was just over 2MW; that was on the 1st August 2019,” he said.
“It’s exactly five years later and we are very confident that by the 1st of August, we will be commissioning the extension to make it 25MW. So we have got just under 10 days to complete all the works and to commission this extension.”
Mr Utedzi said the Centragrid project was critical to Zimbabwe’s intention to add about 4 000 MW of electricity by 2030, given the growing demand for electricity.
Mr Utedzi acknowledged there is “a lot of demand for electricity in new industries” coming up, taking advantage of favourable investment conditions created by the Second Republic.
The mining, agricultural, manufacturing and tourism sectors are growing significantly and demanding more electricity.
“So, we need to add more electricity to this country and Centragrid is that first step of the large-scale renewable energy projects that are adding to electricity generation in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Utedzi.
Centragrid is already working on its third phase where they expect to generate another 60MW, for which they have signed up with a client in the ferrochrome sector.
The budget for the project has been set at about US$60 million.
Enough land for the extension project is available.
Over time, Centragrid intends to generate 100MW and feasibility studies have already been completed and talks with financiers underway.
Construction work is expected to start later this year or early next year.
Mr Liu Yachen, the Sinohydro project manager for the solar project said at the peak of the project, employed about 400 locals and about 10 Chinese experts.
“The local people now know a lot of things about solar energy,” he said.
Sinohydro chief representative for Zimbabwe, Mr Andre Duan , said in the last 15 years, they have done “lots of power generation projects” in Zimbabwe, generating about 1 000MW, at Kariba and Hwange, among others.
Some employees, including a human resources officer, Ms Mildred Charewa, and Mr Bright Mandaza, said the Centragrid solar project had created opportunities for locals.
“We have had a good experience working for the Chinese. I have learnt a lot from the Chinese, as well as appreciate their food; it’s very nice,” she said.
Zimbabwe and China enjoy cordial relations dating back to the days of the liberation struggle.
The Kariba South Hydro Power Station Expansion, Hwange Thermal Power Station Expansion, Victoria Falls International Airport Upgrading, Expansion and Upgrading of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and NetOne broadband construction were also implemented with financing support from Chinese companies.
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