One of the two power generators being built at Zimbabwe’s Hwange Thermal Power Station is almost ready for commissioning and will be started up on Nov. 5, state broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has reported.
The 300 MW unit is part of two generators making up the Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 and 8 Expansion Project. The expansion work started in March 2019 but was stalled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second unit, which will also produce 300 MW, is due for commissioning early next year.
Project Manager Forbes Chanakira said that the start-up was a critical stage of the project as it set the new unit on course to start generating power.
Prolonged power shortages have affected all sectors of the economy and left millions of citizens struggling to run normal lives.
According to ZBC, the leader of government business in Parliament Ziyambi Ziyambi told the House of Assembly Wednesday that the government was pursuing alternative energy sources to curb power challenges.
“Works on the expansion of Hwange 7 and 8 are currently underway and also because of the rapid industrialisation  that is taking place, power supply is likely to be a problem because industry demands more power,” he said.
