The Government, in partnership with power utility ZESA Holdings, is working towards restoring Unit 5 of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, which has been offline for several years.
Once operational, the unit is expected to add 185 megawatts to the national grid.
During a recent project assessment, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, July Moyo, said that approximately US$70 million is needed to complete the restoration work. He said:
I have been informed that if the remaining aspects of Unit 5 are funded, it could be brought back online by March 31 2026.
The critical question remains: Can we secure the US$70 million required to complete the work?
That is the responsibility of the Government and ZESA Holdings in Harare, but I am encouraged that the technical teams on the ground are still working tirelessly.
Despite the commissioning of Units 7 and 8 in 2023, which together generate 600 megawatts, Zimbabwe continues to face a power shortage.
This deficit has been worsened by drought conditions, which have significantly reduced electricity generation at the Kariba South Power Station.
More: ZBC News
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