Zimbabwe to address electricity constraints

Zimbabwe to address electricity constraints

Zimbabwe plans to refurbish the ageing Hwange coal power station to boost electricity supply.  

Article published on the WhyAfrica website   

Ageing infrastructure and rising demand have put Zimbabwe’s national grid under increasing pressure over the last few years.

In the past a consistent supply of electricity from the Kariba Dam’s hydropower station has stabilised Zimbabwe’s national grid.

However, recent droughts and changing rainfall patterns have reduced water levels, forcing cuts in generation to protect the integrity of the Kariba Dam.

Kariba’s inconsistency has resulted in Zimbabwe’s increased reliance on coal and electricity imports from neighbouring countries, which are also not always reliable.

Hwange is huffing and puffing             

While coal supply itself remains inconsistent and transport bottlenecks hamper delivery of product, the almost 42-year-old Hwange coal-fired coal plant has been huffing and puffing.

Hwange’s power station was constructed in the 1970s and 80s. It has a total installed capacity of about 1,520MW (six older units totalling 920MW and two newer 300MW units added in 2023.

The older units have suffered from mechanical breakdowns and wear, often generating far less than their design capacity (many units operating at roughly a third of original output).

Coal the backbone

Coal remains the backbone of the national grid and Hwange (owned and operated by Zimbabwe’s state utility [ZESA] is an important cog in the wheel of Zimbabwe’s electricity supply.

Although there is interest in potential gas resources, particularly coalbed methane in the Lupane area, these projects remain at an early stage and development is slowed by high capital requirements, regulatory uncertainty and the need for supporting infrastructure.

Meanwhile, demand is rising driven by urbanisation, mining activity and efforts to industrialise.

According to Reuters ZESA has signed a 15-year deal with India’s Jindal to refurbish ageing units at Hwange.

The rehabilitation will begin in early 2026 and aims to add 400 megawatts to the grid within four years which is equivalent to a fifth of the country’s present needs.

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In picture is the Hwange power station. The photo was taken during a recent WhyAfrica Road Trip through Africa. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica.

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Zimbabwe to address electricity constraints