Deka project 71,2% complete
THE development of the 42km pipeline project that connects Deka High Lift Pump Station to
Hwange Power Station is 71,2 percent complete and on track to meet final completion deadline by Mar
ch next year, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has said.
The pipeline project is critical to enhanced operationalisation of the Hwange Thermal Power
Station, which is being boosted with 600MW capacity under a US$1.4 billion investment.
The scope of the project also includes the refurbishment of Hwange Water Treatment Plant and
provision of three tap-off points for supply of raw water to the Deka community.
Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC)
The project officially commenced in October last year and is being funded to the tune of US$48,1
million from a line of credit extended by India to Zimbabwe.
In a statement accompanying its updates for the third quarter ended 30 September 2022, the
power utility said the Deka project was progressing very well.
“The Deka upgradation project is 71,2 percent complete and on track to be completed by March 31,
- The pipes have been laid in the order of thickness for the entire 42km since dim, pipe
welding has begun,” said ZPC.
“ZPC secured US$310 million from the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India to rehabilitate
Hwange Power Station.
“The rehabilitation of the ageing thermal power plant shall be done in three phases and we are
projecting that the work on the refurbishment will begin in the third quarter of 2023.”
The upgrading of the Deka pipeline is meant to improve capacity of the Deka pumping station and
rehabilitating the river intake system to increase raw water supply to Hwange Power Station.
During the period under review, ZPC said the country experienced depressed energy generation at
the thermal stations due to numerous forced outages.
This saw a total of 2 258,79GWh being sent out in the third quarter of the year, thereby missing the
target, which was set at 2 444,02GWh by 7,58 percent.
Hwange Power Station
However, the company said for the period January to September 2022, ZPC managed to send out 6
727,82GWh surpassing the target set at 6 621,62GWh by 1,6 percent.
“The small thermals produced a total of 41A 7GWh of energy, falling 29,09 percent short of the
quarterly target of 58,48GWh,” it said.
“This was due to low plant availability and coal stock outs, which resulted in generation loss,” said
the power company.
“During the quarter, Kariba South Power Station had 7 units available for peak generation, and as
such, the station exceeded its quarterly target by 9,17 percent.
Zambezi River Authority
“The hydro power station’s output for the quarter under review was 2,53 percent higher than the
output in the same period last year.”
The company said this was due to an increase in water allocation by Zambezi River Authority
(ZRA) from 15 billion cubic metres in 2021 to 22,5 billion cubic metres in 2022.
It revealed that Kariba Power Station consumed 20,413m3
for power generation as of the end of Q3
2022, compared to a target of 17,4Bm3
, leaving the station with 2,1Bm3 of generation capacity for
the remainder of the year.
“The Hwange Expansion Project Unit 7 is expected to be synchronised to the grid by the end of this
year,” said ZPC.-Chronicle.co.zw
