News / Regional
100 megawatt solar power project for Gwanda
20 Jun 2013 at 22:15hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Power Company has invited partners for the construction of a 100 megawatt solar power project in Gwanda, about 130km North West of Bulawayo.
Tenders open on July 5, 2013 and close on July 23, ZPC said yesterday through the State Procurement Board. ZPC, the power generating unit of Zesa Holdings said in a statement it was looking to engage a partner for "funding, engineering and construction" of the solar power plant.
Energy analysts say if the solar project goes ahead, it would be one of the biggest in Africa and would electrify thousands of homes.
Energy is already a high priority in Zimbabwe, with Government intensifying efforts to boost power generation internally. Zimbabwe requires as much as 2 200 MW, but is currently generating an average 1 200 MW per day.
Zimbabwe recently contracted Chinese company, Sino Hydro to construct two additional units at Kariba Hydro Power Station at a cost of US$368 million. Upon completion, Kariba will add 300MW onto the national grid. Government has also awarded another Chinese company, China Machinery Engineering Company the tender for the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station to the tune of US$1,3 billion.
The additional units will produce 600MW when completed.
A number of solar projects have been announced across Africa in recent years, but few have been on this ambitious scale. Last year, a United Kingdom firm announced plans to build what it claimed would be Africa's biggest photovoltaic solar power plant.
The Nzema 155 MW project based in Ghana, will be able to provide electricity to more than 100 000 homes, according to a BBC report.
In April, Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy specialist Masdar launched a 15MW solar project in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania.
The project will cost US$32 million and will provide up to 10 percent of the country's electricity requirements, reports said. Another such project was launched in Egypt in March, to build a US$1 billion 140MW solar plant.
A European firm, Green Solar Europa, in partnership with a local company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, are also planning to build a 100 megawatt solar power plant at a cost of US$350 million in Gwanda.
The proposal has already been submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Power Development. Once all approvals have been obtained, the construction will take between nine months to a year.
Tenders open on July 5, 2013 and close on July 23, ZPC said yesterday through the State Procurement Board. ZPC, the power generating unit of Zesa Holdings said in a statement it was looking to engage a partner for "funding, engineering and construction" of the solar power plant.
Energy analysts say if the solar project goes ahead, it would be one of the biggest in Africa and would electrify thousands of homes.
Energy is already a high priority in Zimbabwe, with Government intensifying efforts to boost power generation internally. Zimbabwe requires as much as 2 200 MW, but is currently generating an average 1 200 MW per day.
Zimbabwe recently contracted Chinese company, Sino Hydro to construct two additional units at Kariba Hydro Power Station at a cost of US$368 million. Upon completion, Kariba will add 300MW onto the national grid. Government has also awarded another Chinese company, China Machinery Engineering Company the tender for the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station to the tune of US$1,3 billion.
A number of solar projects have been announced across Africa in recent years, but few have been on this ambitious scale. Last year, a United Kingdom firm announced plans to build what it claimed would be Africa's biggest photovoltaic solar power plant.
The Nzema 155 MW project based in Ghana, will be able to provide electricity to more than 100 000 homes, according to a BBC report.
In April, Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy specialist Masdar launched a 15MW solar project in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania.
The project will cost US$32 million and will provide up to 10 percent of the country's electricity requirements, reports said. Another such project was launched in Egypt in March, to build a US$1 billion 140MW solar plant.
A European firm, Green Solar Europa, in partnership with a local company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, are also planning to build a 100 megawatt solar power plant at a cost of US$350 million in Gwanda.
The proposal has already been submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Power Development. Once all approvals have been obtained, the construction will take between nine months to a year.
Source - Herald
