The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has revealed plans to give a boost to three small thermal power stations in an attempt to meet the countrys growing power demands
The company has finished conducting a feasibility study on the plants and will soon begin work on the projects, by replacing old boiler technology with newer technologies designed to increase the amount of power generated.
ZPC had contracted Indian firm Wapcos to conduct feasibility studies on the Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo thermal power stations.
The project, requiring US$300mn, will add approximately 300MW to the national grid and will be completed in two years.
A ZPC statement said, “Wapcos has completed feasibility studies on the three power stations and ZPC is faced with a task to raise US$300mn to fund this project.
“We have put Bulawayo power station in the pipeline for funding by the Indian government and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, which has supported the initiative. ZPC will very soon tender for an engineering procurement and construction contractor who will be able to provide funding for the Harare Power Station.”
After the upgrade on the power stations are completed, Bulawayo power station will be expected to generate 90MW, Munyati will be expected to produce 100MW while the Harare power station should produce 120MW of power.
Zimbabwe is presently facing acute electricity shortages with power utility Zesa Holdings generating about 1,200MW against demand of more than 2,000MW.
