Govt secures US$400million to improve electricity capacity

The government says it has secured over US$400million as one of the long term measures to ease the current power shortages that have been gripling the country.

Speaking at the cabinet briefing yesterday, Energy and Power Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Gloria Magombo said there were measures put in place to meet the demand gap that has been created by the dwindling water levels at Kariba.

“Over and above in the long term, over US$400 million was secured to improve capacity in Bulawayo and Hwange . At Hwange power station, the life extension project has started with Unit5 which has been out due to challenges with it’s turbines earlier this year,” she said.

Engineer Magombo added that there is also progress in the production of small thermals in Bulawayo, Harare and Munyati which will produce about 45MW. A train of over 30 wagons is also said to be in place to power stations and ensure continuous supply of electricity.

The government’s immediate strategy however to curb the power cuts is to ensure that the current units in Hwange are maintained and optimised so that they produce an average of 400MW.

Hwange Unit 8 is currently under development and will be commissioned during the first quarter of 2023, cabinet was told yesterday.