Chivhayo partly to blame for current power challenges says Minister
Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo says Wicknel Chivhayo’s failure to finish the Gwanda solar project is partly to blame for power challenges in the country.
Zimbabwe is facing power challenges due to various factors that range from low levels at Kariba Hydro Power Station, and breakdowns at Hwange Thermal Power Station, among others.
These challenges have left the country with a deficit of about 550 megawatts. Currently, power generation is at around 1300 megawatts against a demand of 1850 megawatts.
Speaking in the Senate recently, Minister Moyo said power from the Gwanda solar project could have helped ease the electricity deficit.
He said the project was supposed to go ahead but there appear to be problems that need to be dealt with first.
‘’The Gwanda Solar Project has generated a lot of interest and it is something that the ZPC and the developer are working on. As you may be aware, there have been a lot of problems that have caused delays and since some of the issues are still pending in the courts, I may be limited to say more than what I have done.
‘’The project, through a court ruling, was supposed to go ahead and I think there are still a bit of issues here and there but the focus is that the project has to materialise…
‘’…On the power generation deficit, I spoke about earlier on especially with reference to the Chivhayo issue as exacerbating the problem that we have. True that is so. The power that we could be benefiting from that project if that project had taken place would have assisted us in reducing the current deficit. That is agreed.
‘’On the logistics of going forward, I indicated that the ball now is between ZPC, ZESA Holdings and Intratek. That is how far I can go,’’ he said.
The Gwanda Solar Project
Chivhayo, a self-styled businessman was awarded a controversial tender to build a solar power plant in Gwanda many years ago, but up to now, nothing has materialised.
At the time of getting the tender, Chivhayo had no experience in building solar power plants.
Zimbabwe is being forced to import power from neighbouring countries, which is affecting the import bill.
Chivhayo partly to blame for current power challenges says Minister
