PROGRESS on the procurement of equipment for the rehabilitation and reinforcement of infrastructure in the energy and water sector has begun with some of the equipment expected in the country this month, an African Development Bank (AFDB) official has said.
Report by Business Reporter
AfDB Zimbabwe Multi Donor Trust Fund manager Emmanuel Nzabanita said the implementation of the rehabilitation process had already begun in Mutare, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Chitungwiza and other places in the country.
“We are implementing the project and 250 transformers are on their way to Zimbabwe while the other transformers will be coming later. The transformers are coming from India while the switchgears will be from Europe,” he said.
Nzabanita said the process was expected to improve the water and power supply in the country.
He said $4 million had been used for the power sector while the $8 million has been channelled for water projects.
Nzabanita early this year said donor countries that include Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom and others contributed $125 million to AfDB for water and electricity projects in the country.
The donors raised the funds and AfDB was to manage the funds on behalf of donor countries.
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Upon the completion of the project, 600 transformers were expected to have been availed.
The country has been facing power and electricity problems due to ageing equipment. The power sector’s oldest power station is more than 30 years old. The water sector has some of its pumps that have not been rehabilitated for over 20 years. Local authorities throughout the country have been failing to provide potable water to residents due to leakages of water through dilapidated equipment.
Government in 2010 said it would spend at least $100 million towards the rehabilitation of Hwange and Kariba power stations and three small thermal stations that include Bulawayo, Harare and Munyati.
Power demand for the nation was estimated at 2 000 megawatts against available output of 1 200 megawatts.
