Zimbabwe is advancing its efforts to address the ongoing power crisis by constructing two solar power plants with a combined capacity of 250 megawatts, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced.
The country is grappling with frequent power outages, which the government attributes to an El Niño-induced drought. This drought has significantly reduced water levels at the Kariba hydropower plant and exacerbated issues at the aging Hwange power stations, leading to government-imposed power cuts.
Mnangagwa highlighted that the Hwange 7 and 8 units, which were commissioned last year, are expected to enhance the country’s power supply.
“The energy and power sector play a crucial role in socio-economic development through industrialization,” Energy Africa quoted Mnangagwa saying. “The Hwange 7 & 8 expansion project is mitigating the low power production levels at Kariba Power Station, ensuring a steady supply to the national grid. Additionally, the development of two major solar power plants, with a total capacity of 250 megawatts, is underway and will be operational soon.”
As of August 10, 2024, the Zimbabwe Power Company reported a total generation of 1,314 megawatts, with Hwange Power Station contributing 1,099 megawatts and Kariba hydropower station generating 215 megawatts. Zimbabwe requires approximately 5,000 megawatts to meet domestic and industrial needs, but imports from South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia have been insufficient.
In response to the drought, Zambia, which shares the Kariba Hydropower Station with Zimbabwe, has announced plans to import energy from Zimbabwe.
