700MW power station for Matabeleland North President Mnangagwa

Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is next week expected to lead the groundbreaking of a new mega power station in Hwange, where a plant to generate more than 700MW will be constructed.

Investors continue to show interest in financing projects in Matabeleland North province, where more than a dozen coal mining and processing firms have been established, alongside power generation plants.

The Second Republic, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, has, despite illegal sanctions, made tremendous economic progress across all sectors using locally available resources, in line with National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030, as well as through partnerships.

Matabeleland North is the biggest beneficiary of the Second Republic’s development agenda, boasting massive projects such as the US$1,5 billion Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8 expansion, Muchesu Coal Mine in Binga District, the US$7,3 million SolGas Energy 5-megawatt (MW) solar power plant at Cross Mabale in Hwange District, and several other projects, many of which have partnered with Zimbabwe Power Company and Hwange Colliery Company Limited.

Other major projects include Lake Gwayi-Shangani in Hwange District, the expansion of Victoria Falls International Airport, Bubi-Lupane Irrigation in Lupane District, which was launched in October 2021 by President Mnangagwa. The scheme was identified as a pilot project for an integrated business model to be replicated across all provinces in the country as part of the National Food Security Strategy.

Lake Gwayi-Shangani

The Government is also working on rehabilitating the Bhulaayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme (formerly Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme), including the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, a 25MW solar plant in Victoria Falls, as well as an international cricket stadium in Masuwe, in the resort city.

The Lupane Provincial Hospital and Welshman Mabhena Government Complex in Lupane are also among the projects.
In the education sector, the Government has opened Hwange Teachers’ College and Binga Polytechnic, and has also given the green light for the construction of a vocational training centre and the establishment of a nursing school at Binga Hospital.

Additionally, a United Nations School of Tourism is also in the pipeline for Victoria Falls, where significant growth has been registered, especially in lodges, hotels, and restaurants, with investments reaching US$300 million last year.

In the energy sector, Zimbabwe’s energy landscape is set to transform, with Matabeleland North playing a significant role as the hub, despite the effects of the El Niño-induced drought that affected power generation at Kariba South Hydro Power Station, leading to power outages.

There are about nine public and private power generation projects that will add nearly 3 000MW to the country in the coming few years. These include the Hwange repowering project, which will add 800MW through the refurbishment of older units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station; Titan Energy, which will add 720MW, plus a solar plant; Zhong Jin Heli, which will provide 300MW; and the ZZE project, which will deliver 270MW, both in Hwange.

Titan New Energy and Zesa Holdings have partnered for the implementation of the 720MW project in Hwange, where President Mnangagwa will officiate on Monday at Tutu Ingagula along Chaba Black Road.

In an interview yesterday, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo said the project is one of the mega deals struck by President Mnangagwa during his visit to China.

“On 2nd December, President Mnangagwa will lead the ground-breaking of the Titan Energy projects, so that construction can begin. Titan is working in Hwange and has made a joint venture with a company in China after being invited by the President to explore investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. We thank our President Mnangagwa for his visit to China, where 53 countries met with China’s President.

“Zimbabwe is one of the countries that signed investment agreements, and they plan to build an electricity power station that will generate 900MW, plus a 200MW solar system. This will be a mega station, bigger than Units 7 and 8, and we thank President Mnangagwa for being open for business and inviting investors into Zimbabwe,” said Minister Moyo.

He added that the province was excited about the investment, especially as the ground-breaking is taking place.

“Over the years, the province had few companies, notably ZPC and Hwange Colliery Company, but now we have several companies brought in by the Second Republic, with many others in partnership with Hwange Colliery to boost production.

“We are excited as a province because this creates jobs for our people and boosts the provincial economy,” he said.
Since coming to power in 2017, President Mnangagwa has been at the forefront of driving economic growth and development in Matabeleland. — @ncubeleon

You Might Also Like

Comments