Power Generation in Zimbabwe
http://zimbabwefood.blogspot.com/2011/01/zimbabwe-power-company.html
Monday, January 10, 2011
Zimbabwe Power Company
New Year Message from
Chairman of Zimbabwe Power Company
1700 hours 8th January 2011
I address this message to users of electricity in Zimbabwe and all other
stakeholders who may be interested.
Recent Status of Generation in Zimbabwe
Over the Christmas period the country experienced a much improved
availability of power. All six units at Kariba were working as were five of
six units at Hwange and Munyati Power Station was generating between 20 and
40 MW. In addition, with much of industry taking a well deserved break,
there was additional power on the grid for those customers on line.
Shortly after Christmas one of the, larger, units at Hwange was lost due to
failure of certain components. On the 28th of December we had to take out a
unit at Kariba for two weeks of routine maintenance. On the night of the 5th
January we had to take out a second unit at Kariba which twins with the unit
already under maintenance. These two units share a transformer on which
components had to be replaced – this was planned for this period.
In summary customers will be experiencing excessive load-shedding in
contrast to the Christmas period, as there has now been a sharp drop in
generation just as industry is coming back to work.
Looking ahead over the next two weeks. Every effort is being made to bring
the unit lost at Hwange back to service during this weekend. The fifth unit
at Kariba should be on the grid on Monday with the sixth returning to
service by mid-January. This should bring the country back to a “normal
load-shedding regime” by the middle of the month.
Looking ahead this year
It is important to advise customers of the realities at Hwange Power
Station. The supply out of Hwange remains fragile in spite of significant
progress having been made to stabilise supply during 2010. We still need to
undertake major works on: the raw water supply line from the Zambezi River,
work on the two large raw-water reservoirs at the station is underway;
urgent and significant work will be undertaken during the first quarter of
this year on the Ash disposal system (a new specialised pipeline has been
ordered and is under manufacture). Further to this, the units themselves at
the station need ongoing work to optimise their output. To assist us with
this “project related work” as well as to train and mentor staff at the
station we have engaged a blended team from India and Zimbabwe under the
management of WAPCOS – a highly respected Indian-based organisation in the
energy field. This team will be on-station early in February. We are
optimistic that there will be a consistency in supply out of Hwange Power
Station by the end of the first quarter 2011 followed by a gradual increase
through the year.
Kariba Power Station should remain at full capacity except for the isolated
occasion when the station is forced into “sudden shut-down” due to exogenous
shocks which can occur on the grid – these can emanate from the region or
sudden failure of local transmission lines.
All three Small Thermal stations (Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo) will be
brought back into service during the first quarter of this year. The cost of
generation from these stations is high due to both the distance from the
coal fields and, in some cases, the need to use higher quality coal. As a
consequence power from these stations can only be sold to those companies
who have dedicated power lines and who are willing, and able, to pay the
higher tariff. However this additional power will help boost the economy and
create additional employment in the process.
Beyond 2011
It is important to note that once we have achieved stability in supply and
optimised our present installed-capacity the supply of electricity will
still remain below demand. Ongoing efforts are being made to increase the
importation of additional power from the region by our sister company,
ZETDC. But there is a regional scarcity. In addition our economy will grow
and hence demand for electricity. The only way to close this demand-supply
gap is to build extra generation capacity, which will take at least three
and a half years from the time funding has been secured.
ZPC’s planning and preparation are well advanced such that its can approach
relevant investors and/or partners in pursuit of adding capacity at Hwange
Power Station (top priority as a “base-load” station) and Kariba (to add to
“peaking demand”). We have the full and emphatic support of our ultimate
shareholder to secure investment for the generation sector. In addition we
plan, over the next two years, to retrofit the Small Thermals in a bid to
increase the energy sent out and lower the costs.
In Closing
I take the opportunity to thank the entire staff of ZPC for their
commitment, hard and long hours of work during 2010 – most often with
constrained resources. Particular gratitude is extended to those who worked
over the Festive Season – day and night. I also extend a note of thanks to
our Ministry for their candid, progressive and demanding support.
I thank all our customers for your patience and understanding. I encourage
you all to keep paying for the units of electricity that you use. In
addition please could we all take all possible measures to reduce our
usage – it is good for your pocket and for the Nation
Best Wishes
The Board and management of ZPC are determined to stabalise and increase the
generation levels in 2011 to well above those levels achieved in 2010.
I wish you all, users of electricity and the staff of ZESA as a whole, a
safe and fulfilled 2011.
R. Maasdorp
Chairman ZPC ([email protected])