News / Local
Government mulls returning thermal power station to BCC
03 Oct 2011 at 08:34hrs | Views
The Ministry of Energy and Power Development is mulling returning the running of the Bulawayo Thermal Power Station to the Bulawayo City Council, a Cabinet Minister has said.
The acting Minister of Energy and Power Development, Mr Gorden Moyo, said the Ministry would consider the local authority's plea to facilitate the transfer of the running of the power station from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to the citizens of Bulawayo.
The thermal power station which has an installed capacity of 120 megawatts but is capable of generating 90 megawatts was dysfunctional dor over a decade and was revived this year following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with between the governments of Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2009.
According to the MoU Botswana would inject $9 million, while Zimbabwe supplies 45 megawatts of power for three years in return.
"We have received contributions and concerns from the BCC and residents who want the power station to be returned to them. The power station was constructed using rate payers' money then Government took over using legislation and when it was taken there was no compensation.
"I understand the issue was highlighted to the substantive minister (Energy and Power Development) and was also put to my attention and we are looking at this issue and a decision will be made soon. When Government took over the power station was operating at 100% producing 90 megawatts and now its producing about 25%," Minister Moyo said.
He said the ministry did not have powers to reverse legislation but if approved by Cabinet. Government would have to return the power station with an ability to generate electricity at 90 to 100% levels.
"As Government we are very concerned about these small power stations because without energy all the efforts we are doing to revive industries might come to nought because it acts as an enabler by becoming the rail on which the economy rides on. If Bulawayo power station is restored fully, Bulawayo's industry can work for 24 hours," Minister Moyo said.
The acting Minister of Energy and Power Development, Mr Gorden Moyo, said the Ministry would consider the local authority's plea to facilitate the transfer of the running of the power station from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to the citizens of Bulawayo.
The thermal power station which has an installed capacity of 120 megawatts but is capable of generating 90 megawatts was dysfunctional dor over a decade and was revived this year following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with between the governments of Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2009.
According to the MoU Botswana would inject $9 million, while Zimbabwe supplies 45 megawatts of power for three years in return.
"I understand the issue was highlighted to the substantive minister (Energy and Power Development) and was also put to my attention and we are looking at this issue and a decision will be made soon. When Government took over the power station was operating at 100% producing 90 megawatts and now its producing about 25%," Minister Moyo said.
He said the ministry did not have powers to reverse legislation but if approved by Cabinet. Government would have to return the power station with an ability to generate electricity at 90 to 100% levels.
"As Government we are very concerned about these small power stations because without energy all the efforts we are doing to revive industries might come to nought because it acts as an enabler by becoming the rail on which the economy rides on. If Bulawayo power station is restored fully, Bulawayo's industry can work for 24 hours," Minister Moyo said.
Source - chronicle
