admindesigned to increase generation capacity by an average of 900 megawatts.
But this throws back the process to augment domestic production of electricity, especially at Kariba for which Sino-Hydro of China had been selected.
The expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 and 8 would bring 600MW on the national grid while Kariba South would add 300MW.
Energy and Power Development Permanent Secretary Mr Justin Mupamhanga said five companies had been shortlisted for Kariba and six for Hwange.
He disclosed this yesterday to a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, examining the country’s power problems.
This comes at a time when Zimbabwe is battling to end a debilitating power crisis that has led to constant power cuts and costly electricity supply disruptions.
Mr Mupamhanga said from an installed capacity of 1 960 megawatts only about 1 670MW could be considered available against the demand of 2 200MW.
“The State Procurement Board floated a tender for the expression of interest (EOI) for the development of Hwange and Kariba expansion projects,” he said.
“The expressions of interest were evaluated, resulting in the shortlisting of five firms for Kariba expansion and six firms for Hwange expansion.”
He said the next stage would be a request for proposals to be issued to shortlisted firms for detailed engineering designs and funding structures.
HATCH Africa were appointed technical advisors by the Zimbabwe Power Company while accountants KPMG were the financial advisors.
Zimbabwe has to augment locally-produced electricity with imports from Hydro-Cahora Bassa of Mozambique, Zecscom of Zambia and SNEL of the DRC.
But this has been problematic due to the shortage of electricity in the region. Only Mozambique can guarantee supplies to Zimbabwe.
But the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chairperson, Mr Edward Chindori-Chininga, said Zesa and its parent ministry were not making progress in addressing the power shortage.
Mr Chinhinga-Chininga cited the cancelled tender for the expansion of Kariba South, which had initially been awarded to a Chinese firm, Sino-Hydro.
“If you have gone to tender, we want that to work and not continue to go back and forth. Hope you won’t go back and forth on this one,” he said.
Zesa Holdings has also gone back for fresh tenders for the supply of 5,2 million SFL energy saver bulbs and for the supply of technology it intends to use for its prepaid meter billing system, citing untenable conditions.
But Mr Mupamhanga said they had resolved to take the process to tender, which was a more astute way to establish firms seriously interested in the projects.
This follows experience from earlier experiences where firms, such as Cactic of China, pulled out of provisional agreements entered into with Government.
To address the serious shortage of electricity, the Government was pursuing a number of projects, including Sengwa Power Station (Gokwe) and the Batoka Hydro Project, between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
This project would generate an additional 1 600MW, but has run into problems due to differences between the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe over the ex-Central Africa Power Corporation assets they used to share.
Plans are also afoot to develop the Lupane coal-bed methane gas project, which has potential to bring to the national power grid an additional 300MW.
Online Reporter