The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is preparing to construct a 400-kilovolt transmission line from Hwange to Insukamini near Bulawayo at a cost of $1,7 billion.
The project, which is expected to result in the creation of hundreds of jobs, is meant to upgrade the power utility’s transmission network to accommodate increased output from Hwange Thermal Power Station.
ZPC is working towards increasing its generation output at Hwange by adding two 300-megawatt plants and another two 150 megawatts at Kariba South Power Station.
As part of preliminary work on the transmission line construction, ZPC and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company will soon be undertaking an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Martin Manuhwa, an engineer with the Zimbabwe Africa Infrastructure Development Group (ZAIDG), told a public hearing on the proposed transmission line at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo that they would ensure that national heritage sites were protected during construction.
ZAIDG and a South African company, Hatch Africa, have been commissioned by ZPC to undertake the EIA.
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Manuhwa said the 300km line would go through Khami Ruins, an internationally protected site. “We will be on the lookout for some monuments on the way,” he said.
“We don’t know of any, but as excavations take place, we will ensure that the National Museums and Monuments Department is involved.”
“The project will improve the rate of economic development in the country.”