adminNorth province, a cabinet Minister has said.
Zimbabwe has been struggling to tap its vast gas reserves, believed to be the largest in the region, due to elusive investment capital.
Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma said the country would start generating power from the Lupane gas project some time next year.
“We will be exploring for methane gas soon along the Lupane belt. Next year we start generating power. The total amount of drilling wells alone without connecting them to generators will be US$12 million,” he said.
The project involves drilling a series of wells as well as connecting them to generators.
In the initial phases of the project, ZPC will drill five wells. About 5 megawatts will be generated from each well. Minister Mangoma said ZPC had secured a loan to finance the project.
The government would soon grant the company a gas concession, he said.
“The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will soon finalise ZPC’s application for a concession,” said Minister Mangoma.
Implementation of the Lupane gas project, which was granted National Project Status by Government in 2007, is expected to ease the country’s power woes.
Zimbabwe, which has resorted to power rationing, is currently producing 1 200MW against demand estimated at over 2 000MW.
The country’s untapped methane gas reserves stand at about 27 trillion cubic feet. Methane gas is considered a cheaper source of energy. – New Ziana.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi