Ten new power producers licensed
06/11/2012 00:00:00
by Roman Moyo
SOME ten independent power producers with a capacity to generate over 5,000
megawatts of electricity have been licensed by the Zimbabwe Energy
Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
The new producers are expected to complement power utility ZESA which is
struggling to meet demand and has rationed supplies to both domestic and
commercial users for years.
ZERA Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Gloria Magombo said the coming on
board of independent power producers will complement the existing power
stations.
Some of the licensed power producers are already operational while two –
Pungwe and Duru Hydro-Power Stations – are set to be commissioned in the
next six months with a capacity to generate 5,2 megawatts.
ZERA has since licensed Essar Africa Holdings (600MW), China Africa Sunlight
(Pvt) Ltd (120MW) and Nyangani Renewable – Duru Minihydro (3.8 MW).
Essar Africa Holdings’ commissioning is expected in 2016, China Africa
Sunlight (Pvt) Ltd commissioning is in 2014 while Nyangani Renewable Duru
Minihydro commissioning is in 2013.
The country is facing a huge power deficit which has impacted negatively on
industry’s performance, with the country generating an average of 1,000
megawatts out of a requirement of 2,200 megawatts.
In a bid to compliment power generation at Kariba, Hwange and other small
power stations, government opened up the sector to independent power
producers.
“Power projects by their nature are capital intensive and will cost US$2,5
million per megawatt and take up to five years before completion,” Magombo
said.
ZERA has licensed nearly 20 independent power producers, of which four small
ones located in outlying areas are already operational with a combined
capacity of 83MW, generally lighting up the Lowveld and keeping a sawmill
running.
Some of the companies that have been licensed but are not yet operational
include the proposed giant Sengwa Power Station (2 400 MW), Lusulu Power
Plant, to the north of Sengwa in Binga (2 000 MW), which is expected to be
completed next year.
Eunafric Power Station, with an initial capacity of 120 MW, is in
discussions with Harare City Council and the Zimbabwe Electricity
Transmission and Distribution