Zesa to shut down Hwange Units 7 and 8 for maintenance

Zimbabwe's power utility, ZESA, has announced a planned shutdown of Hwange Power Station's Units 7 and 8 for preventive maintenance, raising concerns over electricity supplies as the country prepares to temporarily lose generation capacity from its two newest coal-fired units.

The maintenance programme, scheduled to begin on November 15, 2026, will see Unit 7 remain out of service until January 4, 2027, while Unit 8 is expected to resume operations on January 26, 2027.

In a notice issued on November 12, ZESA said the exercise was necessary to improve the reliability and efficiency of the generating units while reducing the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns.

"The maintenance programme forms part of the utility’s routine asset management strategy aimed at sustaining plant performance, improving operational reliability and ensuring the continued availability of generating units for the national grid," the power utility said.

The planned shutdown means Zimbabwe will temporarily lose electricity generation capacity from the two units, which form part of the Hwange Power Station expansion project undertaken to strengthen the country's domestic electricity supply.

The development comes at a time when Zimbabwe continues to face challenges in maintaining consistent electricity supplies, with power generation constraints frequently affecting households, businesses and industries.

However, ZESA has moved to reassure consumers that contingency measures have been put in place to minimise disruptions during the maintenance period.

According to the utility, one of the key interventions will involve increasing electricity generation at Kariba Power Station during peak demand periods to compensate for some of the capacity lost at Hwange.

ZESA also plans to supplement domestic electricity generation through imports from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), a regional electricity trading arrangement that enables participating countries to buy and sell power.

The utility said it had secured additional electricity supplies from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) through power-purchase agreements.

These arrangements are expected to provide supplementary generation capacity while the Hwange units undergo maintenance.

ZESA further indicated that renewable energy projects, particularly solar installations, would continue to contribute additional electricity to the national grid as new facilities become operational.

"To ensure stable power supplies during the period, ZESA Private Limited has put in place several measures to mitigate the temporary reduction in generation capacity," the utility said.

The power company also expressed confidence that the timing of the maintenance would help reduce its impact on consumers.

According to ZESA, the shutdown coincides with a period when electricity demand is traditionally lower, potentially easing pressure on the national grid while the generating units are unavailable.

Nevertheless, the extended maintenance programme will test the utility's ability to balance electricity demand with available domestic generation and imported power.

Hwange Power Station remains a critical component of Zimbabwe's electricity generation infrastructure, with Units 7 and 8 representing a major investment in expanding the country's power production capacity.

The two units were commissioned as part of efforts to reduce electricity shortages, limit dependence on imports and improve the reliability of the national grid.

Their temporary withdrawal from service could place additional pressure on older generating units and alternative electricity sources, particularly if unexpected technical problems arise elsewhere in the power system.

The utility has not indicated whether consumers should expect additional load shedding during the maintenance period, maintaining instead that the measures already introduced are intended to ensure stable electricity supplies.

With Unit 7 scheduled to return in early January and Unit 8 later that month, the effectiveness of ZESA's contingency arrangements will be crucial in determining whether households and businesses experience significant disruptions.

The maintenance programme is expected to support the longer-term operational reliability of Hwange Power Station, although its immediate impact will depend on the availability of replacement electricity supplies and the performance of the remaining generating facilities.