Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Rutendo Nyeve,Sunday News Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is tomorrow expected to preside over a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the establishment of a 720-megawatt (MW) thermal power station in Hwange which on completion is anticipated to significantly contribute to the country’s energy self-sufficiency.
The development which is in line with the nation’s development agenda as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) follows a Memorandum of Understanding and the Transmission Connection Agreement which was signed by Titan and Zesa Holdings in the presence of President Mnangagwa during the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation Summit in Beijing, China recently.
Minister of Energy and Power Development Edgar Moyo confirmed that the groundbreaking ceremony will be held tomorrow at Hwange as part of Independent Power Producers projects which are coal-based.
He said the mega project is expected to significantly ease the power challenges that the country is facing.
“Titan Power Phase 1 preparation for a ground-breaking ceremony for the 720-megawatt thermal power plant at Hwange is underway.
“It is going to happen on Monday (tomorrow). It is expected that President Mnangagwa is going to officiate at the ceremony.
“Their Phase 2 which is 200 megawatt solar PV following the signing of an MOU between Zesa and Titan Power Private Limited during the Forun On China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in China will soon be on board,” said Minister Moyo.
Titan Power (Pvt) Ltd intends to construct a 720MW thermal power station in Hwange and a 200MW solar plant in Gweru.
It plans to construct the plants in phases with the first phase, a thermal power station being a two 80MW plant while for the solar plant, the first phase will be 50MW.
Sources close to the development revealed that Titan Power is fully committed to the construction of these plants and in line with that commitment, they have the equipment for the first phase of the thermal power plant docked at the port in China ready for shipment to Zimbabwe.
The company has secured land for the plant in Hwange and for the first phase of the solar plant.
They have their EPC contractor already at the site for the power station in Hwange ready to start works including the Generation Licence as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate for the plant in Hwange.
This comes as Dinson Company has completed its Phase 1 of a 50-megawatt plant which is already in operation and is now going to Phase 2 where 20 megawatts waste heat recovery is under construction and set to be completed in June 2025.
The other 50 megawatts from Dinson Steel is going to come on immediately after the recovery of the 20-megawatt waste to heat recovery.
The efforts to boost electricity supply come in the wake of increased industrial activity amid the effects of climate change on hydro-power generation with calls getting exceedingly louder for the establishment of solar farms.
Calls have also been made for more Independent Power Producers to come on board to boost the country’s energy levels. — @nyeve14
Online Reporter
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