NRE injects $15m in Nyanga power stations

Published: 07 April 2014

Nyangani Renewable Energy (Pvt) Ltd has remained committed to playing its part in easing energy woes in the country following the completion of some of its hydro-power stations in Nyanga.

The company has invested $15 million in three hydro-power stations, Duru, Nyamhingura and Pungwe.

Nyamhingura, Duru and Pungwe A are now operational and are producing a combined total of six megawatts.

The company is now working towards completing Pungwe B which is expected to be fully functional by December, said the company's executive director, Ian McKersie, last Wednesday.

Nyangani Renewable Energy stands as the biggest independent power producers in Manicaland as it currently produces 6.05MW generated from the three-hydro power stations, The power stations upon completion will produce more than 20MW and contribute to the national grid. The development will help ease power outages bedevilling Manicaland which requires a total of 130MW to power the entire province.

"We are working towards finishing constructing Pungwe B by December. Hopefully it will be commissioned in December.

"The other hydro-stations are now operational and are producing 6MW. We planned to proceed with the investment following the support and encouragement given to IPP's by the Energy Ministry and Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company," he said.

The investment commenced in 2007 with the construction of the Nyamhingura Power Station, which is a 1.1 MW run-of-river hydroelectric power station. It was commissioned in 2010.

The Duru Hydro-power Station has potential to generate 2.78 megawatts, while Pungwe has a capacity to generate up to 15 megawatts when fully operational.

The stations cost $2.5m per MW to build. More than 30 000 villages, clinics, small-scale farming and businesses in areas like Honde Valley, Zindi and Sagambe villages are currently benefitting from the projects.

McKersie added that the deregulation of the Electricity Act which began in 2002 and resulted in the Electricity Act of 2005 and the recent adoption of the Energy Policy opened up the electricity sector to Independent Power Producers, and this in effect was the inspiration to build and operate the first mini hydro-electric Nyamhingura Power Station.

- Manica Post

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