120MW boost as Hwange Unit 6 restored

Published: 10 hours ago

Zimbabwe's power generation capacity received a significant boost on Tuesday with the successful restoration of Unit 6 at Hwange Thermal Power Station, adding a crucial 120 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.

The milestone, confirmed by Zesa Holdings, comes as a welcome relief to households and businesses and is seen as a key step in stabilising the country's energy supply. Unit 6, one of Hwange's eight generating units, had been out of service for some time.

In a statement, Dr George Manyaya, Zesa General Manager for Stakeholder Relations, said: "Hwange Unit 6 has successfully been restored to service. The unit has been synchronised to the national grid and is now fully operational, contributing to improved generation capacity. We extend our appreciation to all stakeholders for their patience and understanding during the outage period."

Hwange Thermal Power Station, Zimbabwe's largest thermal plant, remains the backbone of the country's electricity supply, often providing over half of daily generation. Its ongoing operation is critical for national productivity and domestic energy security.

According to Zimbabwe Power Company statistics for 15 October 2025, daily generation included 1,090MW from Hwange, 488MW from Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Station, and 55MW from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), bringing total generation to 1,633MW.

Dr Manyaya also provided an update on Hwange Unit 3, which is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance for 44 days. "The maintenance is proceeding well, and we expect the unit to return to the grid in early November," he said.

Optimism is further bolstered by improved performance at the Kariba Dam, which is now providing an average of 400MW, a significant recovery from last year's generation slump of around 200MW due to low water levels.

With the additional 120MW from Hwange Unit 6, the sustained output from Kariba, and the upcoming return of Unit 3, Zimbabwe is on track to achieve one of its most stable and improved power supplies in years.

The enhanced generation capacity is expected to reduce load-shedding and provide a more reliable foundation for both economic and social activities across the nation.
- The Chronicle

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