News / National
New power plants for Bulawayo, Midlands
24 Sep 2018 at 09:58hrs | Views
TWO independent power producers have approached the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) seeking licences to separately set up electricity generation plants in Bulawayo and the Midlands provinces.
According to notices published by Zera this week, the regulatory authority has received an application from Parvalue Energy (Private) Limited seeking to construct, own, operate and maintain the proposed 50 megawatts Donnington West power plant in Bulawayo.
In the Midlands, New Glovers Solar Park has also applied to Zera for a licence to establish a 10MW plant in Munyati.
On the Bulawayo power project, Zera said: "The works will also entail the construction of a two-kilometre 132 kilovolts line from Parvalue's Donnington West power plant 132-88Kv switch yard to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) Donnington 132-88/11Kv substation and installation of substation and associated works and accessories."
On the New Glovers power project in the Midlands, Zera said the investment entails the construction of a five-kilometre 11Kv twin lynx line from the proposed New Glovers Solar Park to the existing ZETDC Munyati 88/11Kv substation and installation of related ancillary equipment.
The regulatory authority said the applications by the two independent power producers were made in terms of the provisions of Sections 40, 42 and 46 of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19) of 2002.
"Any person desiring to make objections or representations on these applications for generation licences as advertised may within 14 days from the last day of this publication lodge a written representation with Zera," said the energy regulator.
As a result of power generation constraints prevailing in the country, Government has invited Independent Power Producers (IPPs) including local companies and industries to invest in electricity generation to support the economic revival agenda.
The contribution of IPPs to the national grid is presently minimal and is expected to increase when big power generation expansion projects fully come on board. In 2017, Zera issued power generation licences to nine IPPs with a potential to produce a cumulative 260MW.
Two of the licences were for the establishment of mini-hydro power plants, while six were for solar photovoltaic projects.
One of the licences was for a hybrid solar and diesel venture. However, Zera chief executive officer, Engineer Dr Gloria Magombo, is on record as saying the regulator would be tough on IPPs that were failing to achieve set milestones indicating that her organisation would withdraw licences that have failed to come up with quarterly reports on their milestones. In the past some of the IPPs have been accused of holding onto the licences for speculative purposes.
According to notices published by Zera this week, the regulatory authority has received an application from Parvalue Energy (Private) Limited seeking to construct, own, operate and maintain the proposed 50 megawatts Donnington West power plant in Bulawayo.
In the Midlands, New Glovers Solar Park has also applied to Zera for a licence to establish a 10MW plant in Munyati.
On the Bulawayo power project, Zera said: "The works will also entail the construction of a two-kilometre 132 kilovolts line from Parvalue's Donnington West power plant 132-88Kv switch yard to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) Donnington 132-88/11Kv substation and installation of substation and associated works and accessories."
On the New Glovers power project in the Midlands, Zera said the investment entails the construction of a five-kilometre 11Kv twin lynx line from the proposed New Glovers Solar Park to the existing ZETDC Munyati 88/11Kv substation and installation of related ancillary equipment.
"Any person desiring to make objections or representations on these applications for generation licences as advertised may within 14 days from the last day of this publication lodge a written representation with Zera," said the energy regulator.
As a result of power generation constraints prevailing in the country, Government has invited Independent Power Producers (IPPs) including local companies and industries to invest in electricity generation to support the economic revival agenda.
The contribution of IPPs to the national grid is presently minimal and is expected to increase when big power generation expansion projects fully come on board. In 2017, Zera issued power generation licences to nine IPPs with a potential to produce a cumulative 260MW.
Two of the licences were for the establishment of mini-hydro power plants, while six were for solar photovoltaic projects.
One of the licences was for a hybrid solar and diesel venture. However, Zera chief executive officer, Engineer Dr Gloria Magombo, is on record as saying the regulator would be tough on IPPs that were failing to achieve set milestones indicating that her organisation would withdraw licences that have failed to come up with quarterly reports on their milestones. In the past some of the IPPs have been accused of holding onto the licences for speculative purposes.
Source - chronicle
