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Golden Sibanda
State power utility, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), says it is awaiting determination of its US$310 million loan application to the Indian government to extend Hwange Power Station’s lifespan by up to 25 years.
ZPC, however, needs to raise additional funding from other sources to complete the extensive capacity upgrades and life extension works estimated to cost US$450 million.
The 920 megawatts (MW) power plant, built in the early to mid 80s, has outlived its 25-year lifespan, resulting in reduced reliability due to frequent breakdowns and significantly reduced output.
Life extension was originally scheduled for completion in 2018, but little progress on the upgrades has been registered due to financial limitations.
With HPS more than 30 years now, it has outlived its design life and therefore there is need to carry out extensive life extension works.
The project is aimed at refurbishment and life extension of Hwange Power Station Units 1-6, increasing their expected life span by 20-25 years.
“Scoping studies were done. An application for US$310 million line of credit to Government of India was made. ZPC awaits outcome of that funding application,” ZPC said.
The HPS life extension is over and above ongoing capacity expansion for the addition of two more generators with capacity of 300MW each.
Meanwhile, procurement for Stage I and Stage II Boiler/Turbo-Generator sets work plus part of Balance of Plant (BOP) is being processed — the scope is already defined, ZPC said.
Plasma Ignition combustion technology is to be adopted as part of the life extension project.
Plasma technology uses a plasmatron to ignite fuels, pulverised fuel (ground coal) directly to minimise fuel (diesel) usage for boiler start up and flame stabilisation processes.
While HPS has rated capacity of 920MW, the plant can only produce half the design output due to old age, further constraining power supply at a time Kariba South is also facing challenges.
HPS, a thermal power station, is Zimbabwe’s second biggest power plant after Kariba South and the only major plant carrying most of the country’s peak period demand for electricity.
Kariba South, a 1 050MW hydropower plant, is generating at a curtailed level of 200MW, after the Zambezi River Authority, cut water rations for electricity.
Zimbabwe’s peak period demand for power rises to 1 800MW in winter, but the country can produce an average of 600-800MW at best and relies on imports from the region to bridge the deficit.
The Southern African country is working with its northern neighbour Zambia, with which it shares the Kariba Dam, to build another hydro power plant, a 2 400MW plant on Batoka Gorge and like Kariba Dam, also on the Zambezi River.
Bongani Ndlovu