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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
PLANS to establish a new modern 1,000MW combined gas and thermal fired cycle power plant in Hwange, to be the largest in the country, are underway as investment in the energy sector increases.The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) announced at the weekend that it had received an application from an independent power producer, CoAsh Resources Private Limited, seeking to establish a 1,000MW renewable energy plant.

“Zera has received an application from Co Ash Resources (Pvt) Ltd to construct, own, operate and maintain 1,000 MW combined cycle (thermal and gas fired) power plant. The project will be using induction plasma fired gasification technology for the purpose of cleaning up the now hazardous heavily mined environment while generating and supplying electricity in Zimbabwe,” said Zera in a notice.

“The name of the generation station would be Hwange-CAR Advanced Plasma Waste Gasification Power Plant. The proposed plant will generate electricity using waste coal fines in the Hwange Colliery environs and Matabeleland North.”

Presently, Hwange Thermal and Kariba Hydro power stations are the largest plants with a peak capacity of about 920MW and 750MW respectively.

The energy regulatory authority encouraged those with objections against the setting up of the new plant to come forward.

“Any person desiring to make representations on this application delivered may within 14 days from the last day of this publication lodge a written representation with Zera.

“Any objections or representations received after the 14-day period shall not be considered by authority,” it said.

The new project would augment the ongoing upgrading of existing power infrastructure and other projects currently under way such as Kariba South expansion and Hwange unit 7 and 8 extension.

A number of countries the world over are rapidly adopting renewable energies with Zimbabwe so far having licensed 13 independent renewable power producers.

The development could boost power domestic production to about 5,000MW by 2020, more so with the discovery of vast gas deposits in the Lupane.

Zimbabwe is facing a huge power deficit, a situation that has adversely affected economic growth. The country requires about 2,200MW to satisfy domestic demand daily against supply of around 1,200MW.

Three small hydro plants presently operational are Nyamigura (1,1MW), Pungwe A (2,7MW) Duru (2,2MW) and Pungwe B (15MW) in Manicaland province.

The Great Zimbabwe Hydro (5MW), Kupinga station (1,5MW) in Chipinge, Osborne Dam plant (2,5MW) and Rusitu plant are set to open soon.

Tongaat Hullet is operating on biomass energy at Triangle sugar mill (45MW) and Chiredzi sugar mill (33MW).

The Chisumbanje ethanol plant by Green Fuel is operating an 18MW plant while Border Timbers sawmill plant is running a small power project.