Zimbabwe to boost energy output

Zimbabwe to boost energy output
Published: 11 December 2013
ZIMBABWE plans to construct three solar-powered plants in the west of the country at a cost of $540-million in a bid to ease electricity shortages in the country, an official with the state power company said on Monday.

The southern African nation, which has no shortage of sunshine, produces about 1 200 MW of electricity against a peak demand of 2 200 megawatts, resulting in long outages that have hit domestic consumers, industry and agriculture.

"We have received overwhelming response from investors and we are at the stage of shortlisting candidates," said Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority chief executive Josh Chifamba.

He added that construction of the three solar-powered plants, which will each generate 100 MW, is expected to begin by end of next year. A government official told a meeting of the electricity industry on Monday that Zimbabwean businesses and individuals were spending $360-million every year on diesel generators to produce 250 MW of power.

China's Exim Bank last month agreed to lend Zimbabwe $319-million to add 150 MW to its Kariba hydro power station.

Chifamba said work at Kariba was expected to start in January.

- Reuters
Tags: Electricity, Zesa,

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