Zimbabweans should prepare for worse power cuts in March, as ZESA Holdings has announced that two units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station will shut down for maintenance.
In a public notice issued on Friday, February 28, ZESA revealed that Unit 7, one of the two new units commissioned in 2023 and generating 300MW, will undergo maintenance from March 2 to March 29, 2025.
Additionally, Unit 6, an older unit producing 150MW, will be shut down from mid-March to May.
As of Friday, Hwange was generating 1,076MW, while the total national output stands at 1,341MW — just half of the peak demand.
The power supply at Kariba remains limited due to low dam levels. ZESA’s statement reads as follows:
<blockquote>
ZESA Holdings would like to inform its valued stakeholders that Hwange Unit 7 will undergo a scheduled Class B maintenance, from the 2nd to the 29th of March, 2025. This follows the successful Class C maintenance of Hwange Unit 8 in January 2025.
Furthermore, Hwange Power Station Unit 6 will be taken offline for statutory maintenance from March 15th to May 14th, 2025.
This is being carried out to ensure readiness for increased generation during the peak winter season.
We would like to assure the nation that various strategies have been put in place to ensure stable supply during the period.
Kariba Power Station, which is primarily operating as a peaking plant, will be managed carefully to address the periods of low supply caused by these outages.
The output from Kariba will be adjusted as and when necessary to conserve water for future use, ensuring a balanced and sustainable energy mix.
We would like to sincerely apologize to our valued customers for any inconvenience that will be caused during this period.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe will have more power cuts in March because two units at Hwange Thermal Power Station will be shut down for maintenance. The units will be shut down from March to May, reducing the total power output. This is because the country is facing low dam levels which limit the power supply from Kariba. ZESA Holdings, the power company, says they are working on different strategies to ensure a stable supply of power during this time. They apologize for any inconvenience caused to customers.

Zimbabwe To Face Severe Power Cuts In March As Hwange Units Shut Down For Maintenance

The Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) has called for full disclosure from ZESA Holdings regarding its ongoing discussions with Indian firm Jindal Africa Investments, reported <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/local-news/article/200038579/union-demands-transparency-in-zesas-us350m-power-deal">The Independent</a>.
The discussions centre around a joint venture between Jindal and ZESA to refurbish six units at Hwange Thermal Power Station for US$350 million, a project expected to add around 400 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.
In a letter dated February 13, 2025, addressed to Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) managing director Norbert Matarutse, ZEWU general secretary Martin Chikuni expressed concerns about the secrecy surrounding the deal and the lack of transparency regarding the activities at Hwange Thermal Power Station. He wrote:
<blockquote>
We are reliably informed, by our members, that your management is at an advanced stage in negotiations with some company or individual from India, for the partial or total takeover of Hwange Thermal Power Station.
There is no doubt that such a development will invariably have a negative impact on the workers’ welfare and conditions of service yet they were never consulted or participated, through their union in the decision, despite their inalienable right to be involved and participate in any decision.
If this is indeed true, we find your approach to be inconsiderate, disrespectful and reckless to the almost 700 employees working at Hwange as well as their families whose livelihoods rely entirely on their breadwinners currently employed by ZPC, at Hwange.
</blockquote>
ZPC, a division of ZESA, is responsible for electricity generation.
Chikuni called for an urgent meeting with ZPC management to address the issue, warning that if their request was ignored, they would “pursue all available legal options within the next five working days.”
In response, ZESA Holdings said that the discussions are still in the early stages, awaiting cabinet approval, and therefore cannot be disclosed as finalised. It added:
<blockquote>
However, when Jindal came with its expression of interest they brought their top management who engaged with the power station management and worker representatives.
Management is fully aware of the need to engage workers once there is a clear direction on the expression of interest.
</blockquote>

Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union wants ZESA to tell us everything about a $350 million deal with Indian company Jindal to fix Hwange Power Station. They say workers and their families should be consulted as their jobs are at stake. ZEWU demanded a meeting with ZESA to talk about the deal, threatening legal action if ignored. ZESA said the talks are early and need approval before details can be shared. They promised to involve workers when a decision is made. The union and ZESA are still discussing to make sure workers' interests are protected.

Union Demands Full Disclosure On US$350 Million Hwange Power Station Deal

India’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bramha Kumar, says the repowering of six old units at Hwange Thermal Power Station, along with the construction of four new units, will be fast-tracked to boost the country’s power generation.
The project, which is set to begin this year, has been entrusted to India’s Jindal Steel &amp; Power, a leading power generation firm, as part of the Government’s efforts to improve the national grid.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/rehabilitation-of-hwanges-six-units-to-be-fast-tracked">The Sunday Mail</a>, Kumar revealed that the initiative will add a total of 2,000 megawatts (MW) to the grid—800MW will come from upgrading the old units, while the remaining 1,200MW will be generated from the four new 300MW units. He said:
<blockquote>
As per my discussion with senior authorities, the discussions are on track. We should be able to see the declaration this year. Most importantly, this project will be an example of fast-track implementation.
Jindal Steel &amp; Power signed agreements with Zesa Holdings in August 2024 for an increase of electricity production at Hwange Power Station by 2 000MW over the next few years.
This means 800 megawatts will come from the refurbishment of Hwange Units 1 to 6 and 1 200 megawatts by adding four new units to Hwange Power Station.
</blockquote>
The six units (1 to 6) at Hwange Thermal Power Station were originally commissioned between 1983 and 1989.
Over the years, these units have experienced technical faults as a result of ageing. The planned refurbishment is expected to extend the power plant’s operational life by an additional 15 to 20 years.

An Indian company called Jindal Steel & Power will build four new units at Hwange Power Station in Zimbabwe to create more electricity. This will add 2,000 megawatts to the country's power grid. The old units at Hwange Power Station will also be upgraded to produce 800 megawatts. The new units will produce 1,200 megawatts. The project will start this year and aims to improve the national power system. The upgrades will make the power plants last longer and work better. The work will be done quickly to help Zimbabwe have more electricity.

Indian Company To Build Four New Units At Hwange Power Station

John Mangudya, CEO of the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF), said that ZESA Holdings had productive talks with Indian firm Jindal Africa Investments over a US$350 million joint venture.
Mangudya told the <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/local-news/article/200037346/hwange-power-rehab-talks-successful">Independent</a> that the Jindal Africa Investments team recently visited Zimbabwe.
The partnership aims to refurbish six units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station. Said Mangudya:
<blockquote>
Yes, the team from Jindal was in the country to finalise on the rehabilitation agreement of Hwange Units 1 to 6 with ZESA. The meetings were successful.
</blockquote>
The Independent reported sources as saying that the team met with MIF, power utility ZESA, and the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA).
In 2024, MIF approved the joint venture deal, which will be implemented under a rehabilitate, operate, and transfer (ROT) framework.
This investment is expected to add approximately 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Zimbabwe’s national grid, offering some relief as the country continues to grapple with severe power shortages.
In 2023, President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned Hwange Power Station’s Units 7 and 8, adding 600MW to the national grid. This project, undertaken by Chinese firm Sinohydro, cost US$1.5 billion.

An Indian company called Jindal Africa Investments will work with Zimbabwe's ZESA to fix six units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station. The CEO of Mutapa Investment Fund, John Mangudya, says the talks were successful. This joint venture will cost US$350 million. It is expected to add 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Zimbabwe's power grid. This will help with the country's severe power shortages. In 2023, Chinese company Sinohydro also added 600MW to the grid at Hwange Power Station.

US$350M Hwange Power Station Refurbishment Talks "Successful" - Mangudya

Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 was reconnected to the national grid on Friday after completing Class C maintenance.
This reconnection restores the 300 megawatts (MW) lost during the past month of statutory maintenance.
During Unit 7’s downtime, Unit 8 served as the primary source of electricity from Hwange. The reduced output from Hwange, coupled with low generation at the Kariba South Power Station, resulted in extensive load-shedding across the country.
Class C maintenance, involving routine inspections and minor repairs during planned outages, is essential for ensuring the plant’s efficient operation. 
This maintenance helps identify and address potential issues before they lead to major failures or unplanned outages.
Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo expects a reduction in load-shedding as both Units 7 and 8 are now operational, providing more stability in the lead-up to the festive season. He told State media:
<blockquote>
I understand that Unit 7, which has been off the grid for the past few weeks, will be reintroduced on the grid today (Friday).
This means we expect load-shedding to ease as we head into the festive season. Unit 8 will have its Class C maintenance in January or February next year.
This means there will be reduced load-shedding over the next two months.
</blockquote>
Last Friday, Zimbabwe’s power generation stood at approximately 866MW: Hwange contributed 639MW, Kariba 184MW, and independent power producers 43MW. However, with the nation’s peak demand at 1,800MW, this leaves a significant shortfall.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is refurbishing six older units at Hwange using a US$300 million loan facility from the Export-Import Bank of India.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Power Station's Unit 7 is back online after maintenance, adding 300MW to the national grid. This helps reduce load-shedding in Zimbabwe. Unit 8 was providing electricity while Unit 7 was offline. The maintenance is important to prevent major problems. The Energy Minister expects less load-shedding during the festive season. Zimbabwe still has a shortage of power. The power company is working to improve power generation.

Hwange Power Station's Unit 7 Back Online, Boosts National Grid By 300MW

The Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) has approved a US$350 million joint venture between Indian firm Jindal Africa Investments and Zimbabwe’s state-owned power utility ZESA Holdings. The purpose of this partnership is to refurbish six units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
The refurbishment of the ageing power plant is expected to add approximately 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity to Zimbabwe’s national grid.
In a recent interview with the <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/local-news/article/200032843/mutapa-fund-clinches-us350m-power-deal">Zimbabwe Independent</a>, MIF’s Chief Executive Officer John Mangudya said the deal will be structured under a rehabilitate, operate, and transfer framework.
This means the partners will refurbish the power units, operate them for a period, and then eventually transfer the assets back to ZESA Holdings.
The joint venture aims to upgrade and revitalise the Hwange Thermal Power Station, which is a critical component of Zimbabwe’s electricity infrastructure. Said Mangudya:
<blockquote>
Regarding developments at Hwange Thermal Power Station, the Mutapa Investment Fund board has approved the partnership between ZESA and Jindal Africa Investments for the refurbishment of Hwange units 1 to 6 on a rehabilitate, operate and transfer basis.
This investment, which constitutes a public-private partnership arrangement, will enhance the supply of electricity into the grid by around 400MW to 840MW from the rehabilitation of these six units.
This initiative will add electricity to the grid by around 400MW. The estimated cost of this project is around US$350 million.
</blockquote>
In August 2023, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially commissioned two new power generation units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
The new units, designated as Units 7 and 8, were constructed by the Chinese engineering firm Sinohydro at a total cost of US$1.5 billion.
The addition of these two new units has added 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity to Zimbabwe’s national power grid.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe got a big deal for $350 million to fix Hwange Power Station. Indian company Jindal Africa will help. They will make the power plant better so Zimbabwe can make more electricity. The plan is to fix six units and add 400 megawatts to the grid. The project will follow a plan where they fix the units, run them, and then give them back to ZESA. This will make the power station better and help Zimbabwe's electricity. A new project added more power before this one, making 600 more megawatts. President Mnangagwa is happy about the improvements.

Zimbabwe Secures $350 Million Deal To Refurbish Hwange Power Station

Zimbabwe’s power generation is expected to decline further in the coming months as Units 7 and 8 of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, which provide nearly half of the country’s electricity, are scheduled for Class C maintenance—a statutory requirement.
This maintenance will remove 600 MW from the grid at a time when output from Kariba has fallen to just 215 MW.
Consequently, Zimbabwe will rely on five operational units at Hwange (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6), many of which are prone to breakdowns.
Class C maintenance involves more comprehensive tasks than routine maintenance. This type of maintenance is scheduled periodically and includes detailed inspections of critical components and systems to identify potential issues that may not be evident during regular checks.
It also encompasses complete overhauls of major equipment, such as turbines, generators, and boilers, ensuring they operate efficiently and safely. 
Additionally, extensive testing and calibration of instruments and control systems are conducted to maintain accuracy and reliability.
Gloria Magombo, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, said that Zimbabwe has licenced Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects totalling nearly 2,000 MW in solar energy and 920 MW in coal.
However, most of these projects remain unimplemented because investors require a stable environment and government guarantees on returns.
Magombo said that the average electricity demand during winter was 2,300 MW, while the average supply stood at only 1,550 MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's power might decrease because Hwange Units 7 and 8 are undergoing maintenance. This will remove 600 MW from the grid. The country will have to rely on other units at Hwange, which sometimes break down. The maintenance involves checking critical parts to make sure everything works well. Zimbabwe has licensed projects for solar and coal energy, but they are not implemented yet. More power is needed than what is currently available.

Power Crisis Looms As Hwange Units 7 And 8 Go Offline For Maintenance

ZESA Holdings says the load-shedding experienced across the country is set to ease, as a technical fault that had affected Hwange Power Station Unit 8 since last week has now been resolved, reported <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zesa-puts-measures-to-ease-power-shortages/">The Herald</a>.
Addressing the media in Harare on Monday, August 26, ZESA Executive Chairman Sydney Gata said that the unit is now awaiting synchronisation.
Gata also said the power utility plans to install a utility-scale battery energy storage system, which will provide 600 megawatts of power during morning and evening peak periods for up to three hours. He said:
<blockquote>
We experienced a fault at the Hwange Power Station Unit 8 last week and we had to switch it off.
These are normal technical hitches that happen during the infancy of any new plants and I’m glad to notify you that our engineers have resolved this and we expect to synchronise the unit to be back online soon…
ZESA will install a utility-scale battery energy storage system of 1800 MWh (1.8GWh) which will provide 3 hours of 600 MW during morning and evening peaks.
This will substantially reduce load shedding, besides providing some benefits to system operations.
This project is at the procurement stage. The energy to charge the batteries will be supplied or procured off-peak.
</blockquote>
Gata also announced that Hwange Power Station Units 1 to 6 will undergo a repowering project to boost the current output from 485MW to 840MW.
He further revealed that there are plans in the pipeline to construct an additional four new units with a total capacity of 1,200MW at the Hwange Thermal Power Station. He said:
<blockquote>
Jindal of India will invest in an additional 4 new units at Hwange introducing 1 200 MW of new capacity. Feasibility studies for these have commenced.
This will see an improvement of consistent output from the current average of 485 MW to 840 MW. The programme will be executed unit by unit in the next 36-48 months, with work having commenced on Unit 5, using internal resources.
Hwange Power Station’s ongoing Repowering Programme is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the station’s reliability and output.
With this investment (US$800 million), the project is set to upgrade Units 1 to 6, ensuring increased capacity, and reliability, and extending the operational life of the units by 15 to 20 years.
Currently, the station is maintaining a commendable output of 485MW, even as Unit 5 is being upgraded.
The completion of Unit 5 repowering effort is strategically scheduled for April 2025, which will bolster the station’s capacity in preparation for the high demand during the winter peak season.
</blockquote>
Gata said ZESA has entered agreements with ferrochrome companies to supply their own power. He said:
<blockquote>
Construction work has already started at one site targeting to produce 300 MW of thermal power in Hwange, with the first 100 MW coming on stream by mid-2025.
Construction work will commence this Q3 on a 720 MW thermal power station by one of the ferrochrome companies for self-supply and supply to other ferrochrome companies.
Ferrochrome companies will be investing in renewable energy, solar and wind, commencing this year.
In total, smelting companies have reached an advanced stage for the construction of a total of 300 MW of solar and 100 MW of wind power.
</blockquote>
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), on Monday, August 26th, the power generation figures were as follows: Hwange Power Station was generating 780 MW, Kariba Power Station was generating 215 MW, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were producing 47 MW. This amounted to a total national power generation of 1,042 MW on that day.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA, a power company, says they fixed a problem at a power station and power shortages will get better. They will use batteries to help with power during busy times. They will also upgrade other power stations to make more power. Some companies will make their own power too. ZESA said they are working on different projects to make more power for the country. On August 26, they said the power stations were generating a total of 1,042 MW. This will help reduce power shortages in the country.

ZESA Executive Chairman Announces Measures To Ease Power Shortages

Power generation at the Hwange Thermal Power Station has slightly improved, according to statistics published by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) on Monday, August 26.
ZPC reported that Hwange is currently generating 780 MW, a slight increase from Saturday, August 24, when the coal-fired power plant was producing 635 MW of electricity.
On Saturday, ZESA Holdings announced an increase in load-shedding across the country due to a technical challenge that occurred at Hwange’s Unit 8, which has an installed capacity of 300 MW. Said ZESA:
<blockquote>
ZESA Holdings would like to inform its valued customers that the national power grid is currently experiencing reduced electricity generation capacity due to a technical challenge that occurred at the Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 8.
As a result of this generation shortfall, the utility has had to implement increased load-shedding schedules across the country to balance electricity supply and demand.
Our technical teams are frantically working on resolving the fault to minimize the impact on customers.
</blockquote>
It remains unclear if Unit 8 is now generating power at reduced capacity or if the old units, Units 1 to 6, have increased their generation.
Hwange Thermal Power Station is currently generating the bulk of Zimbabwe’s electricity, as the Zambezi River Authority has reduced the water allocated to ZESA and ZESCO (Zambia) for power generation from Lake Kariba due to the severe drought which impacted inflows.
According to ZPC, this Monday, the Kariba Power Station was generating 215 MW, while independent power producers (IPPs) contributed an additional 47 MW, bringing the total national generation to 1,042 MW.
Before August 21, the Hwange Thermal Power Station was producing more than 1,000 MW, and the hope is that it will reach and even surpass that level of generation sooner rather than later.
For several months, Zimbabweans have been enduring prolonged power outages, with load-shedding schedules often exceeding 15 hours per day. However, there was a brief respite in the lead-up to the SADC Summit held in Harare on August 17.
In the weeks preceding the regional conference, Zimbabwe experienced a slight improvement in electricity supply, providing some relief to citizens. But this reprieve was short-lived.
As soon as the last Head of State had departed Harare after the summit, the power utility reverted to the debilitating load-shedding regime.
This sudden reversion has left citizens with unanswered questions about where the electricity went and why the power situation deteriorated so quickly.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Hwange Thermal Power Station in Zimbabwe is producing more electricity, reaching 780 MW. There was an increase in load-shedding due to a technical issue at Unit 8. The power utility is working to fix the problem. Other power stations like Kariba are also generating electricity. Before August 21, Hwange was producing over 1,000 MW. Zimbabweans have been facing long power outages, with some relief during a recent summit. But after the summit, the power cuts returned, leaving people wondering why.

Slight Increase In Power Generation At Hwange, Latest ZPC Figures Reveal

ZESA Holdings, the national power utility, is implementing increased load-shedding schedules across Zimbabwe due to reduced electricity generation capacity at the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, ZESA explained that a technical issue that occurred at the Hwange Thermal Power Station’s 300 MW Unit 8 has resulted in a generation shortfall on the national grid. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
ZESA Holdings would like to inform its valued customers that the national power grid is currently experiencing reduced electricity generation capacity due to a technical challenge that occurred at the Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 8.
As a result of this generation shortfall, the utility has had to implement increased load shedding schedules across the country in order to balance electricity supply and demand.
Our technical teams are frantically working on resolving the fault so as to minimize the impact on customers.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding during this period.
</blockquote>
According to an update provided by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) earlier on Saturday, August 24, the Hwange Thermal Power Station was generating only 635 MW of electricity. This represents a significant decline from the over 1,000 MW it was producing before August 21.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's power company, ZESA Holdings, is increasing power cuts because a power station has a problem. The Hwange Thermal Power Station is not making enough electricity because of an issue with Unit 8. The company is sorry for the inconvenience and is working to fix the problem. Before the issue, the power station made over 1,000 MW of electricity, but now it's only making 635 MW. This means there's less electricity for people in Zimbabwe, so they have to have more power cuts.

Hwange Power Station Fault Forces ZESA To Increase Load Shedding

The Government has started preparatory works for the development of two additional units at the Hwange Power Station to increase the country’s baseload capacity, a senior official has said.
This follows the commissioning of Hwange units 7 and 8 in August 2023, which has helped offset subdued power output at the Kariba South Hydropower station due to low water levels.
In the Budget Strategy Paper 2025, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube said project development activities for Hwange Units 9 and 10 have commenced. He said:
<blockquote>
In this regard, the Government has started project development activities for the development activities of Hwange Units 9 and 10 that will underwrite the country’s base load and energy mix.
</blockquote>
Ncube said through its Project Implementation Agreement, the Government had provided risk mitigation incentives that should boost the bankability of all solar projects implemented through independent power producers (IPPs).
He also said the government will continue investing in mini-hydropower plants, solar projects, and bio-digesters under the Rural Electrification Fund to increase grid capacity.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The government is planning to build two more units at Hwange Power Station to make more electricity. This will help because the water levels at another power station are low. The Finance Minister said they have started working on these new units. The government is also giving money to help solar projects and other ways to make electricity in rural areas. They want to make sure there is enough electricity for everyone in the country.

Govt Plans To Build Two New Units At Hwange Power Station

The Greater Hwange Residents Trust and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) workers have petitioned the Matabeleland North provincial Environmental Management Agency (EMA) seeking the release of information regarding the pollution from Hwange Thermal Power Station of Ingagula township, which is located close to the power plant, reported the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200028795/residents-petition-ema-over-hwange-air-pollution">Southern Eye</a>.
They petitioned EMA through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and handed the petition to the EMA provincial manager Chipo Mpofu-Zuze.
According to human rights lawyers, the Ingagula township is situated close to a recently expanded thermal power station, posing a potential health risk to residents. Reads the petition:
<blockquote>
Our clients advise that since the commissioning of the two units, air quality levels in Ingagula township and the surrounding areas have deteriorated and there are growing cases of poor health being caused by air pollution from the emissions of the power generating stations.
Our clients are concerned that the right of the residents to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being in terms of section 73(1)(a) of the Constitution is being violated.
</blockquote>
The ZLHR further stated that EMA must ensure that an operation of the size of the expanded power plant (whose installed capacity is 600MW) will not harm the environment and the communities residing in the particular area before it commences. Reads the petition:
<blockquote>
In terms of the law, we are aware that for any operations of such magnitude to commence, in any area in Zimbabwe, your office is supposed to be informed and plays a crucial role as a regulatory authority in assessing and determining whether such an operation should commence and to ensure that the operation will not in any way harm the environment and the communities residing in the particular area.
We advise that our clients have the right to environmental information in terms of section 4(b) of the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27]. As such, we have been instructed as we hereby do to request that you furnish us within seven days of your receipt of this letter the environmental impact assessment report concluded prior to the completion of Units 7 and 8, the conditions on the permitted emissions in the emissions licence for the power station issued in terms of sections 64 and 65 of the Act.
</blockquote>
The ZLHR requested that EMA conduct investigations into the air pollution caused by the power generating station. This is per section 63(1)(b) of the relevant Act.
Additionally, the ZLHR requested that the EMA provide them with the most recent ambient air sampling results for Hwange town, with a specific focus on the Ingagula township and surrounding areas.
EMA has yet to respond to the petition.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Residents Petition EMA Over Thermal Power Plant Pollution

Hwange Colliery, Zimbabwe’s oldest coal producer, has made significant progress in repaying its creditors since entering into reconstruction over a year ago. The company has already repaid over US$350 million of its US$400 million debt, thanks to deals facilitated by external administrators, <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/local-news/article/200020961/hwange-colliery-pays-off-us350m-debt">the Independent</a> reported. The remaining US$50 million, owed mostly to foreign creditors and the government, is expected to be settled within the next two years.
Hwange Colliery, in which the government holds a 42% share, plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, particularly in power generation. The company has a direct conveyor belt connecting its coalfields to the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
To rebuild the company, administrators are exploring various options, including diversifying into agriculture. The colliery is also constructing a coke oven battery plant as part of its efforts to revive the business. According to Hwange Colliery administrator Munashe Shava, the reconstruction process is progressing well, with the company on track to clear its remaining debt within the next 24 months. He did not disclose the specific creditors who have been repaid. He told the Independent last week:
<blockquote>
The reconstruction of Hwange is progressing well.
We have done most of the modalities expected, which include producing the state of affairs report and having statutory meetings with the shareholders. We also met with creditors to map the way forward. We used to owe close to US$400 million, but now we are left with a debt of less than US$50 million, which we anticipate to clear in the next 24 months. This shows we are on the right track.
</blockquote>
The revival of Hwange Colliery has gained attention since the completion of a $1.5 billion upgrade of units at the Hwange thermal power station, which requires increased coal throughput. The power utility, ZESA Holdings, has been stockpiling coal to ensure uninterrupted supplies. Hwange Colliery, with extensive coal reserves spanning 222,000 hectares, used to produce 500,000 tonnes of coal per month, supplying regional steel companies and the now-defunct Ziscosteel. The company’s progress in repaying its debts and diversifying its operations bodes well for its future stability and growth.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Hwange Colliery Has Repaid Over US$350 Million Of Its US$400 Million Debt

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has said it is experiencing depressed electricity generation due to technical faults, which recently happened at Hwange Power Station. In a statement released on 23 October 2023, the power utility said this occurrence has resulted in increased load shedding. Read the statement seen by Pindula News
<blockquote>
ZESA Holdings would like to inform its valued customers that it is experiencing depressed generation owing to technical faults, which have recently happened at Hwange Power Station. This occurrence has resulted in increased load shedding.
Furthermore, we wish to notify Stakeholders that the Hwange Unit 7, which was synchronized in March 2023, is scheduled to undergo Class C Maintenance, a statutory procedure that requires the Unit to be taken off the grid after running for a defined period. This work is expected to be completed within 30 days.
Please be assured that we are working around the clock to implement measures aimed at reducing the severity of load shedding.
Valued Customers are encouraged to use electricity sparingly.
The inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.
</blockquote>
According to ZETDC, as of today, October 25, 2023, Zimbabwe generated a total of 1207MW of electricity. This electricity is produced from various power stations including Hwange Thermal Power Station, Kariba Hydropower Station, Small Thermals, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). However, it is worth noting that the power stations in Harare and Bulawayo are not currently contributing to electricity production.
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ZESA Experiencing Depressed Electricity Generation Due To Faults At Hwange Power Station

Increased load shedding is being caused by the shutdown of Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 6, it has emerged.
The Unit was shut down for renovations on Friday last week and is expected to be switched back on this Thursday or tomorrow.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/week-long-hwange-unit-6-shutdown-leaves-zimbabwe-shot-of-power/">ZimLive</a> on Tuesday, a Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) official who preferred anonymity said the Unit will add 150 MW to the grid when reconnected. Said the official:
<blockquote>
We shut down Unit 6 to attend to a problem of vibration. After the shutdown, we allow a cool-off period of about two days before work can begin. We expect to get it back up on Thursday or Friday, regaining about 150 MW.
</blockquote>
Zimbabweans have enjoyed a period of relatively uninterrupted power supply in the run-up to the 23 August 2023 Harmonised Elections.
This was largely attributed to the successful addition of Units 7 and 8 generators at Hwange which added a combined 600MW to the national grid.
Zimbabwe’s peak electricity demand hovers at around 1 800MW with the bulk of the electricity generated at Hwange and the hydro-powered Kariba Power Station.
On Wednesday, 13 September, ZPC was generating 664MW at Hwange Power Station and 925MW at Kariba Power Station to give a total of 1 589MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Power Station's Unit 6 Shut Down

ZESA has commenced the refurbishment of Unit 5 at the Hwange Thermal Power Station to extend its lifespan by up to 25 years.
The Unit has an installed capacity to generate 220 megawatts (MW).
The work started immediately after the successful synchronisation of the new Units, 7 and 8 this year, and is expected to be completed in 2024.
In 2022, the Government secured a US$310 million loan from India’s Export and Import Bank to fund an extensive overhaul of Units 1-6 at Hwange.
The funds for the project, however, are yet to be released.
In an interview, with <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/hwange-units-1-6-refurb-begins">The Sunday Mail</a>, ZESA consultant Cletus Nyachowe said the power utility was using its funds to kickstart the project. Nyachowe said:
<blockquote>
To enable the disbursement of the US$310 million, the lenders would like to know the exact scope of the work that needs to be done, and that comes in the form of a detailed project report (DPR).
So, ZESA, together with our consultant, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), have produced that DPR which has been submitted to the financiers and they are looking at that report.
As ZESA and ZPC, we have been proactive; even before the disbursement of that US$310 million, we have started the refurbishment programme with Unit 5 already undergoing an overhaul.
Work has already started using our internal resources and we should be through with the first unit during the third quarter of 2024.
</blockquote>
He added that ZESA will decommission one Unit at a time for refurbishment. Said Nyachowe:
<blockquote>
It will take an average of five to six months to refurbish each unit over a period of five to six years.
So, you can see it is quite an extensive project, which will not be finished in the short-term, but will proceed over five to six years.
</blockquote>
The refurbishment of the six units, which were commissioned between 1983 and 1987, is expected to restore generation capacity to about 9 00MW.
Combined with the two new units, Hwange would then have an installed capacity of more than 1 400MW, making it the biggest power plant in the country.
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ZESA Commences Hwange Units 1 To 6 Refurbishment

The Government says the country is steadily moving towards energy sufficiency which will make load shedding a thing of the past.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zimbabwe-close-to-energy-sufficiency-local-generation-and-imports-now-meet-daily-demand-of-almost-2-000mw/">State media</a> on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) conference in Victoria Falls on Wednesday, 28 June, Energy and Power Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Gloria Magombo said local generation and imports now meet the daily demand of almost 2 000MW.
She said Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Units 7 and 8 which are undergoing technical commissioning ahead of commercialisation, have improved the power situation in the country. Said Magombo:
<blockquote>
We need to meet the growing demand which is based on the growing economy. As for Hwange Units 7 and 8, from March this year, we successfully synchronised Unit 7 which has been going through technical commissioning.
We are now doing the last of the tests and it will soon be going into commercial operation and as they are doing the tests the power is being supplied.
And we have also successfully in May brought in Unit 8 which is now going through reliability tests and, it will go on until September when it will also go into commercial operation.
While there may be a day or two where we will be doing other tests, it will be available and that is already being felt by people.
</blockquote>
Units 7 and 8 will provide a combined 600MW once they are operating at full capacity.
Before the expansion project, Hwange Power Station had an installed capacity of 920MW and the addition of 600MW from Units 7 and 8 will take the installed capacity to 1 520MW.
However, the old units experience frequent breakdowns and can no longer be relied on.
Magombo said the current demand is 1 850MW and, in addition to imports, the gap between demand and local power generation has been reduced drastically. She said:
<blockquote>
If you look at the additional 600MW which we have added onto the grid with all the two units running, our current demand is sitting at about 1 850MW.
We are now almost exactly supplying that amount, including some of the power which is coming from imports.
Obviously, you know that Kariba reduced output so we can do more in a year where there is much more water.
So we are cautiously using Kariba now, but what we have is able to meet our demand and we are able to do without any load shedding.
</blockquote>
On 01 July 2023, Kariba Hydro Power Station was generating 875 MW, Hwange 600 MW and Harare 15 MW to give a total of 1 490 MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Local Power Generation And Imports Now Meet Demand - Govt Official

Energy and Power Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda said that the Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 will be back on the national grid on Monday.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) announced that the 300MW Hwange Unit 7 had been temporarily removed from the grid for system evaluation before the final commissioning phase.
Responding to questions from Senators on Thursday, Soda said the reliability tests for Unit 7 had been completed and it will be back on the grid on Monday. The <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/hwange-unit-7-passes-test-runs-back-on-grid-next-monday/">Chronicle</a> quoted the Minister as saying:
<blockquote>
It was being run on commissioning tests where they were testing the turbine running capacity, which was successful and also the boiler hydraulics.
What happened is that after running it for the period of the tests, they took it out of the grid in order for technicians to do evaluations before the unit is run on a commercial basis.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the synchronisation of Unit 8 did not go as planned on 16 May, according to the Minister.
He said when the synchronisation started, engineers discovered after about three hours that there was an area that they needed to attend to and it was taken off the grid. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
They have been working on the unit and according to what they had pre-determined at a time when they took it off the grid, the unit was supposed to be tied back to the grid today (last Thursday).
</blockquote>
He said he was yet to get an update from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) on whether that had happened.
Unit 7 and 8 are expected to add 600 megawatts to the grid and reduce the duration of unscheduled power cuts being experienced across the country.
The two units were built at a cost of about US$1.4 billion by a Chinese contractor.
The Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project started in 2018 but was affected by a number of unforeseen events such as the COVID-19 outbreak.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Unit 7 Back On The Grid On 22 May

The Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 8 is set to be synchronised on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, with tests underway to ensure that the process is undertaken successfully.
Unit 8 is expected to add another 300 megawatts to the national grid once fully operational.
The planned synchronisation of Unit 8 comes a few months after Unit 7 was successfully synchronised with the national grid and started feeding electricity.
Minister of Energy and Power Development Zhemu Soda recently told the media that Unit 8 will be connected to the national grid on 16 May. He said:
<blockquote>
Engineers are on the ground working on various tests to make sure everything is in order for a successful synchronisation of Unit 8 with the national grid.
It is the same procedure that was undertaken before the synchronisation of Unit 7 on 20 March 2023.
What we are observing is that the synchronisation will go as planned.
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/all-set-for-hwange-unit-8-synchronisation-power-outages-price-volatility-temporary-ed/">The Sunday News</a> reported sources close to the project on Saturday as saying tests were underway to ensure smooth synchronisation. Said a source:
<blockquote>
Engineers are on the ground working on various tests to make sure everything is in order for a successful synchronisation of Unit 8 with the national grid.
It is the same procedure that was undertaken before the synchronisation of Unit 7 on 20 March 2023.
What we are observing is that the synchronisation will go as planned.
Hwange Unit 7 which is still undergoing commissioning tests has successfully completed the reliability run.
Engineers took it off the grid on Thursday for evaluation of all systems which was supposed to be 168 hours.
I am sure that time has lapsed so engineers will advise when it will be returned to the grid for the final phase of commissioning which is the performance and guarantees test. After these tests, it is expected to be available commercially in mid-June.
</blockquote>
The Hwange Thermal Power Station Expansion Project involves the construction of two new units, Units 7 and 8, which will have a combined capacity of 600MW.
The project is being funded through a loan from China Exim Bank, with Sinohydro Corporation acting as the EPC contractor.
The project is expected to cost approximately $1.4 billion and was initially scheduled for completion in 2022 but was delayed due to COVID-19.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"All Set For Hwange Unit 8 Synchronisation On 16 May"

Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 first achieved a full capacity output of 335MW at 9:27 AM on Thursday 30th March 2023.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) managed to synchronise the first of two generators on Unit 7 into the national grid on Monday, 20 March after failing to do so several times.
The two generators make up the Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 and 8 Expansion Project being installed under a US$1.4 billion facility from China Eximbank.
Soon after the successful synchronisation of Unit 7 into the national grid, ZPC said power will be progressively fed into the grid until it reaches 300MW.
However, captains of industry said Unit 7 will not meaningfully end the current electricity challenges bedeviling the economy.
Zimbabwe has a national electricity peak demand of between 1 700 and 2 200 depending on the season.
On 31 March 2023, ZPC was generating a total of 678MW, with Hwange producing 311, Kariba, 350, and Munyati 17. Harare and Bulawayo were generating zero.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009522/ed-demands-re-run-in-violence-hotspots">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Unit 7 Achieves 335MW Full Capacity Output

Captains of industry say the successful synchronisation of Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 with a generation capacity of 300 megawatts (MW) with the national grid will not meaningfully end the current electricity challenges bedeviling the economy.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Kurai Matsheza on Wednesday told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/hwange-deal-wont-rid-zim-of-power-crisis/">Business Times</a> that the hope is that the new unit will operate at full capacity consistently. Said Matsheza:
<blockquote>
We hope that it will be on the grid on a sustainable basis and hopefully, it will operate at the capacity of 300MW and if that stands a test of time, this will assist industry and other sectors of the economy though it will not eliminate the power challenges completely.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Mike Kamungeremu said the development is welcome. He said:
<blockquote>
We hope that Unit 8 will come soon and that will be commendable. We hope that may result in load shedding hours reduced as right now it is not sustainable for businesses to run for hours as the cost is too huge resulting in some firms closing.
All the same, we are happy with the development, though we need more power.
</blockquote>
<h2>Hwange Unit 7</h2>
Unit 7 was successfully synchronised with the national grid and started feeding electricity on Monday, 20 March.
The synchronisation sought to establish if the electricity being generated from Unit 7 would flow into the national grid.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) said that power from Unit 7 will be progressively fed into the grid until it reaches 300MW.
ZPC said it expects the second 300MW thermal unit (unit 8) to start generating power in October.
<h2>Depressed Power Generation</h2>
According to power generation statistics, ZESA ‘s five power stations in Kariba, Hwange, Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare on Wednesday collectively produced 361MW against a national demand of 1 800MW.
Hwange Thermal Power Station has the capacity to generate 1 220MW, while Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Plant has the capacity to generate 1 050MW.
On Friday, 24 March, Hwange was generating 530MW, Kariba, 350MW, and Munyati, 18MW to give a total of 898MW. Harare and Bulawayo were not generating anything.
<h2>ZESA Loadshedding, Debts</h2>
To cover for the shortfall, ZESA is load-shedding consumers as well as importing from South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia.
A <a href="https://www.263chat.com/zambia-to-switch-off-zim-over-power-supply-debt/">recent report</a> claimed that Zambia’s power utility ZESCO Limited was set to disconnect supply to Zimbabwe on 14 March over non-payment of US$10.7 million debt for the month of February and March.
ZETDC commercial service director Gift Ndhlovu was recently quoted as saying the overall debt to regional suppliers has increased to over US$100.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Unit 7 Will Not End Zimbabwe's Power Crisis

The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) late on Monday said the new 300 megawatts (MW) generating unit at Hwange Thermal Power Station started feeding electricity into the national grid.
Zimbabwe is expanding the 920MW Hwange power station by adding two 300MW units (7 &amp; 8) at a cost of US$1.4 billion, with 85% of the funding coming from China, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwes-new-300-mw-coal-fired-plant-starts-feeding-into-grid-2023-03-21/">reported Reuters</a>.
Unit 7, the first of the two units built by China’s Sinohydro, was successfully synchronised into the national grid on Monday evening. A short statement released by ZPC yesterday reads:
<blockquote>
The Hwange Expansion Project’s Unit 7 was successfully synchronised today at 1826hrs.
Power will be progressively fed into the grid until it reaches 300MW.
</blockquote>
The ZPC has said it expects the second 300MW thermal unit (unit 8) to start generating power in October.
On Tuesday, 21 March, ZPC was generating a paltry 522MW from two out of five power stations.
Hwange and Kariba were generating 323MW and 199MW respectively, while Munyati, Bulawayo, and Harare were producing zero.
Zimbabwe requires 1 700MW in Summer to end load shedding.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Unit 7 Power Generation Set For Gradual Increase To 300MW Capacity - ZESA

The Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 was successfully synchronised with the national grid and started feeding electricity on Monday, 20 March.
<a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/historic-moment-as-unit-7-is-synchronised-successfully/">The Chronicle</a> reported that the synchronisation, which was done at 6.25 PM, sought to establish if the electricity being generated from Unit 7 would flow into the national grid.
In 1984 four engineers were electrocuted at Hwange Power Station when they synchronised a system that was not yet ready.
Yesterday, the process was done without any complications and after 20 minutes of the synchronisation, 41MW of electricity were being fed into the grid.
It was hoped that up to 100MW would be fed into the grid from Unit 7 later on Monday.
Six hours from the time the synchronisation started, the engineers were going to switch off Unit 7 and conduct checks on the system.
The checks would be conducted for 12 hours, and thereafter, Unit 7 would be brought back onto the grid and be allowed to generate electricity again.
However, it will take time for Unit 7 to achieve the installed capacity of 300MW and expectations are that this will be attained by June this year.
The project manager, Engineer Forbes Chanakira, a University of Zimbabwe graduate, turns 41 next Monday.
ZESA Holdings executive chairman Sydney Gata, who was at the power plant yesterday to witness the synchronisation, likened the amount of work put into commissioning a thermal power station to an “open heart surgery”. Said Gata:
<blockquote>
The synchronisation has been successful and I am happy. As ZESA we are proud of this event.
We can gladly say we have a viable investment here. The rest of the tests can now be concluded while the unit is now generating electricity and soon we shall be enjoying more electricity.
The plant was well-designed and well-constructed. Today we have been able to synchronise it with the national grid.
I pay tribute to the project manager Engineer Forbes Chanakira and a team of nearly 200 young engineers for a job well done.
</blockquote>
Before the expansion project, Hwange Thermal Power Station had an installed capacity of 920MW.
The addition of 600MW from Units 7 and 8 will take the installed capacity to 1 520MW.
National Coordinator responsible for programmes and projects in the Office of the President and Cabinet Amos Marawa, who was also present during the synchronisation, said ZESA should now start rehabilitating the old six units to ensure they generate more electricity.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Power Station Unit 7 Synchronised Successfully

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda has said the commissioning of two new units at Hwange Thermal Power Plant, that is units 7 and 8, “is complex”.
This comes amid indications that the state-owned power utility, ZESA Holdings, has missed several deadlines to commission the units and ease load shedding in the country.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/power-outages-ease-supply-not-guaranteed/">Business Weekly</a> last week, Soda said the synchronisation of Unit 7 for it to come on board was “almost complete.” He said:
<blockquote>
A lot of processes are involved; these include testing the performance compliance levels at various production levels.
You need to understand the behaviour of the plant; say when it is producing 100 MW, or 200MW.
So even when we switch them on, we still have to do all those processes and when that is done, we can then start producing at a commercial scale.
</blockquote>
Soda said the COVID-19 pandemic also delayed the commissioning of units 7 and 8 as technicians from China could not travel to Zimbabwe.
He added that Sino Hydro, the company contracted to build 7 &amp; 8 had subcontracted ABB to conduct testing of the protection system but due to the resurgence of the pandemic late last year, the technicians failed to travel to Zimbabwe.
When the technicians eventually arrived, it took time for them to understand the system and they also needed to be reinforced by a team from South Africa.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Commissioning Of Hwange Units 7 & 8 Complex"

ZESA Holdings is currently unable to avail a load-shedding timetable due to the unreliability of Hwange Power Station which is now very old and constantly breaks down.
This was said by Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda on Wednesday in the National Assembly while responding to lawmakers who wanted to know why the power utility had stopped issuing load-shedding schedules. Soda said:
<blockquote>
At the moment, it’s very difficult to come up with a schedule because we have unplanned power outages at Hwange due to its age.
We cannot plan well based on the capacity of Hwange. We have unplanned outages that are occurring from Hwange.
In the morning today, we were obtaining a capacity of 387 megawatts, and you will be surprised that it can go down to 100 megawatts.
Of the four units that are currently in service, some would have gone out of service. So the power station is not reliable at the moment because of age.
We will soon be availing a load-shedding schedule after the coming in of unit seven and unit eight.
If there is going to be any deficit after the two units come in, then ZESA will have to give a load-shedding schedule.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s largest power plant is the Kariba South Bank Hydro, with an installed capacity of 1 050MW followed by Hwange Thermal Power Station with an installed 920MW capacity.
By Thursday afternoon, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was yet to post the power generation statistics on its website.
But the previous day, Wednesday, 08 March, Hwange was generating 401MW, Kariba was producing 253MW and Harare was on 12MW, giving a total of 666MW.
The other two power stations, Munyati and Bulawayo were producing zero.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Load Shedding Timetable Impossible", Soda Cites Constant Breakdowns At Hwange

The breakdown of five out of six units at the Hwange Thermal Power Plant has compounded existing electricity challenges Zimbabwe is facing with some customers enduring power cuts lasting more than 24 hours.
The country’s power utility, ZESA Holdings, is expected to bring online two new units at the Hwange Thermal Power Plant in the coming weeks to add 600MW to the national grid.
However, due to constant breakdowns at Zimbabwe’s largest coal-fired power station, which has seen output falling to less than 9 percent of its designed capacity of 920MW in recent days, there is little hope that units 7 and 8 will change anything.
An energy expert, Gerald Tasara, told <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/will-hwange-7-and-8-make-big-difference/">Business Weekly</a> that the new units will not make any big difference in terms of the national power supply. He said:
<blockquote>
Ideally Units 7 and 8 should be adding 600 MW to the exiting capacity but the problem is the frequency of breakdown of the existing plant.
Most of the units have already reached the end of their life span.
What will be churned out by the two units will be effectively replacing the current capacity and this won’t make any big difference in terms of delivering additional energy onto the national grid. 
This won’t make any big difference in terms of the national power supply. 
However, we can take comfort from the dependability or reliability of the new units as this may stabilise the power supply situation.
</blockquote>
The new units were scheduled to start operation in November last year, but both are still offline.
The Hwange Power Station comprises six units, four are 120MW units commissioned between 1983 and 1986 and the other two are 220MW units commissioned in 1987.
All six units have outlived their life spans by at least eight years.
A ZESA official was recently quoted as saying the plant is now 38 years old and its designed life is 30 years.
Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda said that the Hwange Power Station will be decommissioned after commissioning Units 7 and 8. 
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Hwange Units 7 And 8 Will Not Make A Big Difference"

The new Unit 7 at Hwange Thermal Power Station is expected to come on the grid on 16 March while Unit 8 is expected to come on line April.
This was said by the Minister of Energy and Power Development Minister, Soda Zhemu on Wednesday during the National Assembly question and answer session, reported <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/hwange-unit-7-to-come-on-grid-in-two-weeks/">The Herald</a>.
He was responding to a question by Chegutu West MP, Dexter Nduna (ZANU PF) on what Government was doing to address power blackouts that worsened this week. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
According to ZESA, Unit 7 shall be tied on the grid on the 16th of this month while Unit 8 will come on board a month later.
</blockquote>
Soda blamed the ageing equipment at Hwange Power Station the for the electricity crisis. He said:
<blockquote>
This week we noticed there was a depressed power supply which was occasioned by unfortunate outages at Hwange and we lost three units from the 23rd of February.
This is a result of the age of the equipment which we have always spoken about.
The equipment is now very old, the power station was constructed a long time ago and the equipment is now due for replacement at Hwange power station.
It is unfortunate because these outages are not planned. If they were planned outages, then warnings would have been sent by the power utility.
</blockquote>
Soda also said the water level at Kariba Dam was rising and was now at 14 percent of live storage. He said:
<blockquote>
We hope this will inform the allocation of water for power generation when it’s due for review in a fortnight.
</blockquote>
National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda said there was a need for Soda to bring a comprehensive ministerial statement on the power crisis.
On Wednesday, 01 March 2023, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 352MW.
Kariba was producing 280MW while Hwange was generating a paltry 72MW.
More <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Hwange Unit 7 To Come On Grid On 16 March - Minister Soda

The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) says it is at various stages of repairing four units at Hwange Power Station after a series of breakdowns in recent days.
The breakdowns at the thermal power plant, which is the country’s second-biggest plant, literally plunged the country deeper into darkness as it is now operating at just 10 percent of its 920 megawatts capacity.
According to a general supply summary report produced by ZPC, between February 15 and 23 this year, four units at the Hwange thermal power plant were switched off, leaving the plant operating with one.
ZESA spokesperson George Manyaya promised to provide comment to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zpc-attends-to-faults-at-hwange-power-plant/">The Herald</a> after “getting a status update from the technical team” on Tuesday, but he had not done so by the time of publishing.
According to ZPC, a unit of ZESA Holdings responsible for generating electricity, Unit 4 was switched off on 15 February after developing a boiler tube leak.
Unit 1 was taken off on February 24 after a high-pressure fan got damaged.
Unit 3 was stopped on February 24 after developing a tube leak while Unit 6 was switched off on February 23 after developing a similar problem.
The damaged units are at various stages of being repaired, said ZPC. Unit 5 tripped in October 2021 due to excessive turbine vibrations.
On Wednesday, 01 March 2023, Kariba hydroelectric plant was generating 280MW.
Kariba’s Unit 4 was taken out on July 20 2022 due to a damaged turbine runner.
Generator 1 was switched off on February 2 2023 for turbine runner inspection. The inspections have been completed and the unit has been placed on annual maintenance.
Unit 8 tripped on 20 December 2022 due to GTx 8 fault and is being replaced.
Unit 6 was taken out on December 16 2022 for an annual overhaul and machine cooling water pipework replacement. Kariba dam level has slightly improved to 13,75 percent.
Meanwhile, Hwange was generating only 72MW this Wednesday while the small power stations, Munyati and Bulawayo are currently switched off for boiler maintenance.
Zimbabwe is importing 50MW from Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa; 180MW from Eskom, between 130-200MW from Electricidade de Moçambique and 1 00MW from Zambia’s state-owned power utility ZESCO.
The country is exporting up to 80MW to Namibia.

Several Units At Hwange Power Station Break Down

Former deputy Prime Minister, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Arthur_Mutambara">Professor Arthur Mutambara</a>, has called for the removal of the “incompetent” Indian company contracted to manage works at Hwange thermal power stations.
Speaking during a Public Policy Research Institute of Zimbabwe (PPRIZ) Webinar on the energy crisis in the southern African nation, Mutambara said Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) must be removed and work be done by Zimbabwe engineers. He said:
<blockquote>
We must carry out the refurbishment of Hwange 1 and 6. They are too old and they’ve not been refurbished. It is a problem because WAPCOS the Indian company is incompetent. It must be removed. There’s a company called WAPCOS, which has got a management agreement to run Hwange 1 and 6, they are incompetent, they are not capable. They must be removed immediately and the job of managing Hwange 1 to 6 must be given to Zimbabwean engineers in the diaspora, in the country and then a plan laid out to refurbish Hwange 1 to 6 using the OEMs, the original equipment manufacturers.
Now that Hwange 1 and 6 refurbishment can solve Zimbabwe’s energy problems. It can be done tomorrow, but WAPCOS must go. They are corrupt and they’re corrupt politicians in Zimbabwe. Hwange 7 and 8 is ready, the synchronization is taking place slowly. There’s a challenge technically on synchronizing Hwange 7 and 8 to the grid. Now, this is a very simple technical problem that engineers can solve, Zimbabwe’s engineers can solve, but the contractor who’s producing, who is working on 7 and 8 might be sabotaging the country because they want to be paid.
</blockquote>
He said the technical issues being mentioned are part of sabotage by the contractor to bargain for payment for their projects and their other investments in Zimbabwe. 
Mutambara said Zimbabwe’s energy problems will go away if Hwange 7 and 8 come on board.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Mutambara Calls For Removal Of Indian Company Managing Hwange Power Station

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda has said the expansion of the Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 is 99 percent complete, with only the synchronisation of the whole system set to be done.
The Unit is expected to add 300MW to the national grid upon completion.
Addressing journalists in Harare, Soda said the synchronisation will be completed anytime this month. <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/hwange-thermal-power-station-unit-7-99-percent-complete/">The Herald</a> quoted Soda as saying:
<blockquote>
Hwange Unit 7 has actually progressed with all other systems having undergone commissioning tests and they were successful.
One of the critical stages in the commissioning of a power station is the achievement of certain revolutions of the turbine and that was achieved.
We are only left with the synchronisation of the whole system starting from where the coal is burnt, steam is produced, turbines are turned and causes the generator to produce electricity which is evacuated into the grid.
We expect that anytime from now given that the whole system is 99 percent complete; we are only left with one percent which is the synchronisation of the whole system.
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Work on the project started in August 2018 using an initial $199 million from China Eximbank but its completion was delayed by the outbreak of the coronavirus in late 2019.
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) <a href="https://www.zpc.co.zw/">website</a>, on Monday, 13 February, Hwange Thermal Power Station was generating 378MW.

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