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THE Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has approached the Indian government to fund refurbishment of the Bulawayo thermal power station, an official said yesterday.The thermal power station was commissioned in the 1950s as an undertaking by the Bulawayo municipality.
It was transferred to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority in 1987 after the amalgamation of all the local authority electricity undertakings, the Electricity Supply Commission, thermal power stations at Munyati and Hwange and the Central African Power Corporation station at Kariba.
Unbundling of Zesa business units has resulted in the plant falling under ZPC.
While initially the Bulawayo thermal power station had an installed capacity of 120 MW, a refurbishment exercise in 1999 on the ageing plant gave it a new lease of life.
The station now has an installed capacity of 90MW although it is currently averaging 30MW.
ZPC board chairperson Mr Victor Gapare said once the planned refurbishment is completed, the thermal power station would double output.
“Boiler plant availability will continue to be improved and once work on the evacuation feeders has been completed, the station is expected to generate 60MW.
“We also intend to replace the current boilers at the station and increase its capacity to 90MW,” he said.
Zimbabwe is experiencing huge power deficits which have impacted negatively on industrial performance with Zesa generating an average of about 1 200 MW out of a national requirement of around 2 200 MW in winter. – New Ziana
Online Reporter