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Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 was reconnected to Zimbabwe’s national grid on Friday, providing an additional 300 megawatts (MW) of power following a month of routine maintenance.
This boost in power generation capacity is expected to ease the country’s load-shedding challenges, which have worsened recently due to reduced output from both Hwange and Kariba South Power Station. For the past month, Unit 7 had been offline for statutory maintenance, leaving Unit 8 as the primary power source from Hwange.
The combination of reduced output from Hwange and lower generation levels from Kariba South, caused by drought-induced low water levels, led to extensive power cuts across the nation.
Now, with both Units 7 and 8 operational, Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo expressed optimism that the reconnection would bring relief from power outages as the country approaches the festive season. “I understand that Unit 7, which has been off the grid for the past few weeks, will be reintroduced on the grid today [Friday],” Minister Moyo said.
“This means we expect load-shedding to ease as we head into the festive season. Unit 8 will have its Class C maintenance in January or February next year, so there should be reduced load-shedding over the next two months.”
The minister added that load-shedding is expected to ease further during the holiday period, as industrial activity typically slows down, freeing up additional electricity for residential areas. “With most industries closing for the festive season, more power will be allocated to domestic users, helping reduce load-shedding,” he explained.
The recent power shortages have been compounded by the refurbishment of Hwange’s six older units, a project funded by a US$300 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of India.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is overseeing these upgrades to improve long-term output and reliability at the Hwange station. These older units are essential components of Zimbabwe’s power infrastructure, and their refurbishment is expected to further bolster the country’s electricity supply in the future.
As of last Friday, Zimbabwe’s total power generation stood at approximately 866MW, with Hwange producing 639MW, Kariba contributing 184MW, and independent power producers supplying 43MW. This combined output, however, still falls short of the nation’s peak demand of 1,800MW, resulting in a sizeable deficit.
Despite the challenges at Kariba, where output has been constrained by the El Niño-induced drought affecting water levels, Zimbabwe’s daily generation capacity has remained between 800MW and 1,000MW.
This stability has largely been achieved through the recent synchronisation of Hwange’s new units, including Units 7 and 8, which were introduced as part of efforts to modernize and expand the power station’s capacity.
To make up for the remaining shortfall, Zimbabwe has been importing electricity from neighboring countries, with these imports playing a critical role in keeping businesses and households connected. While the recent reconnection of Unit 7 offers hope for immediate relief from load-shedding, Minister Moyo emphasized that more sustained improvements in power availability will come through ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
Hwange’s rehabilitation, alongside future maintenance plans, is part of the government’s broader strategy to create a more resilient energy system. This long-term approach aims to ensure reliable power supply for Zimbabwe’s economic sectors and residential consumers alike.
The reconnection of Unit 7 provides a promising step forward in addressing the country’s energy needs.
