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Bulawayo Thermal Power Station

Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) will hold a public hearing on the $87 million upgrade of the Bulawayo Power Station on Monday next week.

The Bulawayo Repowering Project and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is a legal requirement for specified developmental activities such as power generation and any major construction works. Its purpose is to maximise the positive and minimise the negative synergies and make sure that the developments are compatible with environmental conservation and preservation.

ZPC said in a statement that the public hearing was meant to engage key stakeholders in Bulawayo and capture their sentiments about the repowering project.

“ZPC is currently working towards the refurbishment of the Bulawayo Power Plant to increase its generation capacity to 90MW.

“This will involve the refurbishment of Khami Dam Water Treatment plant and the laying of a 20km long pipeline,” said ZPC.

“Securing an adequate supply of raw water is a key deliverable of the repowering project.

“ZPC is cordially inviting all stakeholders to attend the public hearing and present their views about the Bulawayo repowering project.”

The power company said the ESIA report would be submitted to the Zimbabwe Environmental Agency (EMA) for approval in fulfilment of the requirements of the EMA Act (Chapter 20:27).

ZPC said the Zimbabwe Africa Infrastructure Development Group consultancy had been contracted to carry out the ESIA process.

The Bulawayo Power Station has an installed capacity of 90MW but currently generates an average of 30MW.

The refurbishment is expected to boost electricity generation by 60MW so the station can operate at optimum capacity.

The hearing will be held at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre from 10AM.

The approval for ZPC to extract raw water was granted by the Bulawayo City Council earlier this year after ZPC managing director Noah Gwariro applied to the local authority.