Zimbabwe expects power demand to reach 5000MW by 2030, pushes for more energy projects
Zimbabwe expects power demand to almost triple to 5,000MW by 2030, according to Energy Minister Edgar Moyo, showing the need to speed up new energy investments.
Power stations currently produce 1,300MW, short of the peak demand of 1,900MW.
“Projections are that by end of 2030 the national demand for power will have increased to about 5000MW hence there is need for continual development in the sector,” says Moyo, while commissioning the Deka pipeline project in Hwange on Monday.
Moyo has previously said power demand from the mining sector alone has now risen to 2,600MW as the industry expands and new projects come on stream.
The country commissioned two new units of a combined 600MW at Hwange Power Station in 2023, hepling reduce the deficit. But older units at the plant break down often, worsening the power crisis. Zimbabwe will use loans from India’s Eximbank to fix the aged generators, Moyo says. This would increase power production from the old units from 400MW to 840MW. Zimbabwe will also divert US$110 million that had been set aside to repower the Bulawayo thermal plant, which has since been shut down.
“Once again funding for this project to the tune of US$310 million will be provided by the Government of India through a similar facility to the one for the Deka upgradation project. A further US$110 million will also be transferred from the Bulawayo Repowering Project to augment the refurbishing efforts.”
Zimbabwe used a US$48 million loan from India to build the 40km Deka water pipeline, which supplies water to the new Hwange plants.
Moyo says Government projects alone will not satisfy power demand.
“This is a challenge facing all developing nations worldwide,” he says, adding that Zimbabwe is pushing for more investment in renewables and other power projects.
“The global trend is also moving away from the conventional centralized large power plants to distributed systems that are powered by sustainable renewable energy sources,” Moyo says.
Zimbabwe has failed to attend significant Independent Power Producers due to their concerns over low tariffs and currency uncertainty. ZESA has since raised its tariff, causing an outcry from industry. But Moyo says the tariff is “very fair as it is based on a cost-plus reasonable return formula”.
“The Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electrical Energy Company recently commissioned a 50MW Thermal Power Plant at Deka Bridge here in Hwange. I am reliably informed that two more thermal power plants are under construction in the country,” Moyo adds. Credit: NewZwire
