Categories: Stories

Power producer applies for 1 000MW licence in Hwange

An independent power producer, Co-Ash Resources has applied to set up a 1 000 megawatt thermal and gas-fired power station in Hwange, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has said.

According to the energy regulator, the firm will generate power using waste coal from mining companies in the area using the plasma fired gasification technology.

Plasma gasification technology, which involves conversion of organic matter into electricity, is a globally accepted form of waste management which is already being used in developed countries such as the United Kingdom and France to generate power.

“The name of the generation station would be Hwange-CAR Advanced Plasma Waste Gasification power plant,” ZERA said in a statement today.

“The proposed plant will generate electricity using waste coal fines in the Hwange Colliery environs, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe.”

ZERA said the new power station’s generation method would help clean up “the now hazardous heavily mined environment whilst generating and supplying electricity in Zimbabwe.”

With Zimbabwe battling an energy shortage as demand continues to outrun supply, ZERA has licensed over 15 IPPs to complement struggling power utility, ZESA Holdings, amid calls to license more private power generators.

ZESA is currently generating about half of the 2 200MW national requirement which has resulted in permanent load shedding being introduced for both households and industry impacting negatively on economic recovery efforts.

Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire recently encouraged IPPs to apply for licenses as government has opened up the sector to end ZESA’s monopoly in power generation.

“We have opened the sector, anyone who has the resource to set up the power generating plant should come on board and get licensed,” he said. – The Source

(74 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Can the ZiG sustain its rally against the US dollar?

Zimbabwe’s battered currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, which was under attack until the central bank devalued…

November 10, 2024

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024

The Zimbabwe government and not saboteurs sabotaging ZiG

The Zimbabwe government’s insatiable demand for money to satisfy its own needs, which has exceeded…

October 20, 2024

The Zimbabwe Gold will regain its value if the government does this…

Economist Eddie Cross says the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will regain its value if the government…

October 16, 2024

Is Harare the least democratic province in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, which is a metropolitan province, is the least democratic province in the…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabweans against extension of presidential term in office

Nearly 80% of Zimbabweans are against the extension of the president’s term in office, according…

October 11, 2024