Kwekwe and Gokwe mull biogas projects

Kwekwe and Gokwe councils are mulling bio gas projects from waste material to mitigate crippling power cuts, with some companies already showing interest in the project, an official said on Monday.

Zimbabwe businesses have suffered rolling blackouts that have paralysed industry and mining in the southern African country and damaging an already fragile economy which generates 1 200 MW, nearly half the peak demand of 2 200 MW.

The two local authorities have already floated tenders for the projects which have attracted interest.

“Our power needs are soaring, so we have to look for other alternatives which will help during frequent Zesa power cuts,” Kwekwe Mayor, Matenda Madzoke said on Monday.

“We have two companies that have expressed interest in the project and we are considering them through our tender process.”

Madzoke said if successful, the project will improve Kwekwe’s power supply but declined to disclose the names of the companies.

He, however, said the local authority has not yet chosen the project site.

The bio fuel generation, a green gas process is one of the most environmentally friendly ways of generating power.

Gokwe town council has already engaged the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to roll out the same programme.

“We are working on introducing a bio gas project and the ground work has began. We are therefore currently awaiting approval for the environmental impact assessment, ” Gokwe town secretary Melania Mandidya said.- The Source

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