HWANGE – The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) plans to increase electricity generation capacity at Hwange Thermal Power Station by about 600 megawatts (MW), a development expected to bring relief to the country which has experienced excessive load-shedding for the past 10 years.
Report by Richard Muponde
Standards Association of Zimbabwe director for quality assurance Sebastian Zuze disclosed the plans while presenting an International Standards Organisation certificate to ZPC last Friday.
“I am aware of the expansion plans to increase the station’s generation capacity by an additional 600MW to bring it to a total of 1 520MW,” Zuze said.
“The standard that you have embraced will be an excellent catalyst in managing this project. ZPC Hwange, the largest coal-fired power generator in Zimbabwe with an installed capacity of 900MW and the 14th largest in the region, is confronted each day with ever-increasing demand for excellent service and value for money from its diverse customers.”
However, it could not be established how much was needed for the project and when it would start.
“It is crucial to note that the role played by ZPC Hwange in the Zimbabwean economy talks directly to the country’s competitiveness and level of comfort of our citizens. It is, therefore, in order that we congratulate ZPC for adopting a tool that bears testimony to their commitment to deliver value to the customers consistently,” he said.
Speaking at the same function, senior ZPC officials said they had already sent several technical staffers to India for further training in preparation for the expansion project.
