Expansion works at Hwange Thermal Power Station now positioned at 25%, 14 months into the project. Upon completion the project is expected to add 600MW into the national grid by 2022.
The US $1.5bn project, being worked out by Chinese firm Sinohydro, entails the addition of two power generating units; unit 7 and 8 to the existing 6 units that were commissioned between 1983 and 1987. Along with many others at various stages of implementation, the project is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to find sustainable solutions to power shortages that are retarding industrial growth and curtailing economic growth.
As per the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), most excavation work had been completed including for the cooling tower, the boiler house and the chimney. “We have completed all the excavations up to foundation level for Hwange 7 and 8,” the ZPC said.
The power company has mentioned that they are still on schedule to finish the project on time. The whole project will take up to 42 months to complete, but unit 7 is expected to start firing by April 2021 while unit 8 will follow afters.
