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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) says the expansion of the Kariba Power Station is on target with the drilling and blasting of access tunnels having been completed.

The $533 million expansion project, which includes development costs to be met by ZPC, is being undertaken by a Chinese firm, Sino Hydro and is targeted for completion by 2018.

On completion, the Kariba South expansion project will generate an additional 300 megawatts.

To date China Exim Bank has disbursed $100 million, which is the project’s first tranche under the engineering procurement contract valued at $354 million.

“Our projects are progressing well and we’re on target with the Kariba extension project.

“We’ve completed the drilling and blasting of four access tunnels . . . drilling and blasting is in progress to create the underground powerhouse and the head race tunnels, which will direct water from the lake to the turbines.

“Manufacturing and procurement of electromechanical equipment for the project has commenced in China, and these will be monitored and reviewed until completion,” ZPC managing director, Noah Gwariro, said.

At Hwange Thermal Power Station, which is also undergoing extension, Sino Hydro, Hatch and ZPC teams are already on site for the extension of the plant’s Units 7 and 8.

The plant’s expansion works involves construction of additional 2x300MW units.

“Preliminary geotechnical and topographical studies for the power station have been completed.

“Upon finalisation of financial closure, it’s expected that the first unit will be commissioned after 36 months,” Gwariro said.

Turning to the 30MW Gairezi hydroelectric project in the Eastern Highlands, Gwariro said the tender for the project closed in June.

“We’ve also concluded the adjudication of the commercial envelope for the solar projects and documents are currently at the State Procurement Board,” he said.

ZPC is also in the process of fulfilling conditions for the funding of Harare Power Station repowering project, and tenders for Bulawayo and Munyati thermal power stations closed on June 16.

Of late, ZPC has experienced a number of system disturbances that have affected mainly the performance of Hwange and Bulawayo power stations, resulting in a negative variance in relation to the energy sent out in the second quarter.

Following the tuning in of power system stabilisers to curtail the effects of the system induced disturbances, daily power generation in the country has generally improved from about 900MW to 1,300MW.

Latest records from ZPC indicate the country is now generating 1,307MW on average with Hwange and Kariba producing 592MW and 640MW respectively.

Harare and Bulawayo were generating 30MW and 24MW respectively while Munyati thermal power station was contributing 21MW.

Due to ageing equipment, the country, which has a peak demand of 2,200MW has over the years experienced acute power deficit.