Major boost for Hwange 7 and 8 expansion project
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is this week expecting to take delivery of the third
batch of Hwange B substation transformers, a major boost for the Hwange 7 and 8
expansion project.
The transformers will help reduce numerous power interruptions that have a negative
impact on households, industries, human capital institutions and essential basic service
delivery, ZPC said.
In an update yesterday, the power firm said the overall Hwange 7 and 8 expansion
project is now at 94 percent while the Hwange B substation works are expected to be
completed in time for planned commissioning of Hwange unit 7 next month.
“Zimbabwe Power Company will this week receive the third batch of Hwange B
substation transformers, a major milestone in the Hwange 7 and 8 expansion project,”
reads part of the statement.
“The two auto transformers for the Hwange 7 and 8 substation are sized at 630 MVA,
400/330 KV each, with the construction of transformer foundations having since started
and most of the work completed.
“The milestone is expected to contribute immensely towards the key aspirations of the
National Development Strategy (NSD 1) and Vision 2030 which is targeted to immensely
contribute in achieving energy self-sufficiency as we move towards total electrification
of the country.”
The power firm said substations are crucial to the Hwange 7 and 8 project for the
transmission and distribution of the generated power to different loads countrywide and
feeding into the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) region.
The US$1,5 billion Hwange Power Station Unit 7 and 8 expansion project is one of the
flagshipprojects being implemented under the Second Republic in line with Vision 2030,
which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy.
The project began in August 2018 following a ground-breaking ceremony by President
Mnangagwa while the main construction of two additional coal-fired units of 300MW
capacity each was started in March 2019.
Zimbabwe-Power-Company
The power station is expected to generate more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s
electricity needs following the expansion.
The project is funded by China Exim Bank and is being executed by Sinohydro and the
Government of Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and is expected to b
e a game-changer in terms of enhancing power supply in the country.
Other substations, Insukamini and the Marvel substation both in Bulawayo which will
have lines connecting to the Hwange B substations are also expected to be completed in
November.
“These Bulawayo substations will enable the transmission of electricity to consumers in
Bulawayo and Matabeleland South and North provinces. Sherwood substations which is
situated in Kwekwe will be completed in March 2023, in time for Hwange Unit 8 commissioning. Customers fed by the Sherwood substation are spread over the Midlands,
Mashonaland East, West and Masvingo province.”-The Chronicle
