The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT’s efforts to end the country’s power shortages have seen licensed Independent Power Producers generating energy for their respective communities and feeding the excess into the national grid — a move that has seen Mutasa District becoming self-sufficient.
The six IPP sites operating in Mutasa are producing 30 megawatts, which is more than enough to satisfy the district’s energy requirements.
This also comes as power generation at national level has vastly improved over the last few days following the Zambezi River Authority’s decision to allocate more water to Zesa so that the power utility can generate more power at Lake Kariba.
The recent synchronisation of Hwange Unit 7 has also seen an additional 300 MW being fed into the national grid.
The National Energy Policy seeks to ensure that the country has access to adequate, reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy services.
And as Government works round the clock to ensure that this vision is realised, the door has been opened for private players.
As a result, Manicaland boosts of key energy infrastructure which has seen Nyangani Renewable Energy (PVT) Ltd setting up mini-hydropower stations in Mutasa.
Other projects include GreenFuel’s ethanol plant in Chipinge, as well as Tsanga B power station in Nyanga.
The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) is also working on the Osborne mini-hydro power project that will see 2.5MW being fed into the national grid.
The province is endowed with mountainous terrain, perennial rivers and waterfalls that make hydro power generation much easier.
As a result, Nyangani has built six power plants since 2009 after being licensed to construct, own, operate and maintain power plants for the purposes of generating and supplying electricity to the national grid.
It sells the power generated to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).
The plants have a total generation capacity of 30MW.
The Pungwe B run-of-the-river hydro power plant produces 15MW; Nyamhingura (1.1MW); Pungwe A (2.7MW), Duru (2.2MW), Pungwe C (3.7MW) and Hauna (2.1MW).
Nyangani managing director, Mr Ian Mckersie said the hydro power sites are on rivers flowing from the Nyangani massif in the Eastern Highlands.
Mr Mckersie said private players need to work with Government in transforming the energy sector.
“We help empower local communities through our work with the Honde Valley Hydroelectric Power Trust (HVHEPT) which has, among other community projects, connected 53 schools to the national grid.
“The Trust receives a share of the income from the power generation plants. Every year the trustees approve grants for projects that benefit the community in and around the power stations.
“Over the last years, most Honde Valley schools have been connected to power,” said Mr Mckersie.
Engineer Tendai Danana of Mutasa Rural District Council said the local authority is getting substantial revenue from Nyangani through development levies and fees on the power generated.
He said the district does not experience load shedding.
“When there is load shedding in other districts, our district is not affected, unless if there are faults or maintenance work being done.
“As a result, our schools, clinics and homesteads access electricity 24/7 and there are no disruptions to business operations.
“Abattoirs, food processing plants, value addition plants and retail outlets, among others, are stampeding to invest in the district to tap into this steady power supply,” said Engineer Danana.
He also said some investors are lining up for potential mini-hydro sites along Odzani River and in Penhalonga.
In addition to mini hydro power generation sites, solar farms are also being set up across the province.
A 12-hectare solar farm in Sherukuru will produce 10MW, while 24ha piece of land in Vhumbunu will produce 30MW.
“As Manicaland, we can take a leading role in promoting increased uptake and investment in renewable energy technologies. The vast array of renewable energy resources include solar, biomass, mini hydro power plants and wind,” said Engineer Danana.
Mr Tadiwa Muchemwa, who operates a butchery at Hauna Growth Point, said power cuts are a thing of the past.
Member of House of Assembly for Mutasa Central, Honourable Trevor Saruwaka applauded Government’s efforts in developing the energy sector.
