In Zimbabwe, local firm Sakunda Holdings got approval to construct a 200 MW diesel plant in Dema. “The negotiations have now been finalized, and the necessary approvals granted. The project will commence soon,” said Fullard Gwasira, sposkeperson of state-owned electricity company, Zesca.

The emergency power plant will help Zimbabwe better face the current power crisis it is experiencing. “It is expected that the project will be completed within 12 weeks from the implementation of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and is expected to start generating electricity by June 2016,” Gwasira said.

Reassuring regarding cost of electricity generated at the plant he added: “Diesel plants by their nature come at a premium tariff, just like the generators in our homes, but the tariff will be managed by the architecture of the plant as it is an emergency plant, and perhaps more importantly, by a mix of concessions, which the shareholder has granted the project to make the tariff more affordable.”

After this plant, another one in Mutare will be constructed. The Mutare plant has a capacity of 120 MW. Helcraw Electrical announced it acquired $120 million from import-export African Bank to develop the project.

Gwladys Johnson