The Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Plant in Masvingo Province is set for official commissioning in the coming days, marking a major milestone in Zimbabwe's push to expand clean energy generation and accelerate industrial growth, Government has announced.
Already feeding electricity into the national grid, the five-megawatt (MW) hydro facility operates under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).
The plant utilizes water released from Lake Mutirikwi Dam for irrigation, channeling it through turbines to generate power before it continues downstream to sugarcane fields in Chiredzi.
Located near the historic Great Zimbabwe monuments, the project is expected to bring both environmental and economic benefits. Government officials said the plant has already reduced local transmission losses and eased load-shedding for Masvingo urban residents.
The forthcoming commissioning is set to further strengthen the province's energy profile and bolster Zimbabwe's transition toward clean and decentralized power generation.
Officials say the initiative reflects Government's commitment to providing stable electricity for key sectors - particularly agriculture and industry - while promoting sustainable development.
Masvingo is poised to emerge as a key energy hub, with additional projects on the horizon, including a 15MW hydro-power station planned for Tugwi-Mukosi Dam. Once completed, the province's generation capacity will reach around 25MW, exceeding local consumption and enabling surplus power to feed into the national grid.
As Zimbabwe moves to close its energy gap and stimulate economic transformation, the Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Plant stands as a symbol of innovation, resilience, and progress in national development.
- NewZiana
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