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Acting Business Editor
THE Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) says it will this year work on maximising and sustaining electricity supply from existing assets in order to accelerate economic growth, an official has said. ZPC managing director Noah Gwariro said electricity has been identified as one of the key drivers of the country’s economy.
“Part of our strategy for 2014 involves maximising and sustaining supply from our existing assets, increasing generation capacity, increasing organisational capacity and capability, ensuring that we are financially viable, encouraging zero harm to our people and the environment as well as building strong positive and lasting relationships with all stakeholders,” he said in a statement.
He expressed optimism that 2014 would be another gratifying year for ZPC continuing from last year when the power company achieved a number of major priorities in line with power generation and new projects.
“To successfully move forward in 2014, I believe we need to implement innovation and become proactive in realising our mandate to generate power.
“With this in mind, we will work hard to implement the Kariba expansion and the small thermal repowering projects in this new year,” he said.
Over the years, Zimbabwe has been facing acute power shortages and this has negatively affected economic growth in the country at a time when efforts were being made to address electricity supply situation in the country.
The country has a national demand of 2,200 MW and as of yesterday, ZPC indicated that 1,161 MW were being produced.
“Some of our achievements include the coming back on load of Hwange Power Station, with its station 2 and 3 generating a total of 50 megawatts, after having been idle for a very long time. Munyati and Bulawayo power stations also increased their output towards the end of the year while Hwange and Kariba performed exceptionally well in the second and third quarters of 2013,” he said.
Last year, ZPC secured a loan worth $28 million from the Indian government for the refurbishment of the Deka pipeline in preparation for the Hwange expansion project.
Towards the end of 2013, the power company reached a financial closure for the Kariba expansion project and the contractor, Sino Hydro, has begun initial preparations for work to begin during the first quarter of this year.
Online Reporter