Kariba power station expansion to begin in Q1

Published: 12 December 2013

THE 300-megawatt Kariba South Hydro Power Station expansion project is expected to start in the first quarter of 2014. The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) said designs for the project were already under review.

"Designs for the project are currently under review and are expected to have been completed by the end of this year, paving way for the project to begin in the first quarter of 2014," said ZPC on its website.

Recently, Zimbabwe and the China Export and Import Bank signed a $319 million loan agreement for the expansion of the hydro power station.

Under the arrangement, the Chinese bank will provide 90 percent of the project cost amounting to $319,5 million while the Government through ZPC would finance 10 percent balance totaling $35,4 million.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said Kariba South expansion project is expected to go a long way in easing power outages in the country as power from the plant would be added to the national grid.

Presently, Zimbabwe which has a national demand of 2,200MW was generating far much below that figure.

As of yesterday, the power company said the country was producing 1,158MW.

Among other fundamentals, power challenges have since the liberalisation of the economy in February 2009 threatened the revival of the country's under-performing industries.

Due to persistent intermittent power challenges capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector has remained on the low with latest figures from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries manufacturing survey report, companies were operating at 36,9 percent compared to 44,2 percent in 2012.

Taking into consideration its significance, the expansion of the project needs to be finished as soon as possible to reduce the burden of challenges industry was facing.

Of late, the shortage of electricity in the country has continued to hamper socio-economic growth with the majority of citizens being deprived of opportunities to improve their living standards.

Against this background, it is also hoped that the 2014 national budget set for presentation next week on Thursday will prioritise the funding of existing thermal power station programmes in oto improve electricity supply in the country.

Over the years, the Government has committed itself to the growth and development of the energy sector. Since 2010, for example, funding amounting to $74,27 million has been disbursed resulting in considerable refurbishment works being undertaken mainly at Hwange and Kariba power stations.
- chronicle

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