Published: 07 October 2013

Zesa Holdings says it is considering installing new boiler technologies for its three redundant thermal power stations to help reduce the power deficit the country is facing.

Zimbabwe is struggling to address perennial power shortages which have resulted in the introduction of permanent load shedding for industry and households. Power demands stands at 2 200MW but the country is generating between 1 350 to 1 400 MW leaving a deficit of around 800MW.

Load shedding has especially impacted negatively on industry recovery coming from a background of economic difficulties which chocked productivity.

Zesa Holdings group chief executive Mr Josh Chifamba said the thermal power stations in Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati were hardly in use due to viability issues. He said the thermals required a special type of coal from Hwange to fire them which made it costly to run them.

"What we are trying to do is to implement a project realisable within 18 months and that is to change the boiler technology (for the thermals) to allow us to use different types of coal that are obtainable from areas which are closer to the stations," said Mr Chifamba.

"That is a project that will give us 240MW to close that 800MW gap."

- New Ziana

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