(Ecofin Agency) - The Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa will soon launch extension work of the Hwange thermal power plant. The $1.5 billion project will add 600 MW through the 7 and 8 production units which will produce 300MW each, raising the plant’s installed capacity to 1,520 MW.

Work will be conducted by China’s Sino Hydro and are set to last 42 months. According to Fullard Gwasira (photo), spokesman for ZESA, the Zimbabwean company in charge of electricity production, “projections showed that extension works will generate 2,200 jobs while 300 additional people will be needed for the extension of the transmission and distribution line,”

Let’s note that with this new work, the country hopes to reduce its dependence on energy imports, which currently stood at 400 MW.

Gwladys Johnson Akinocho