Alliance Africa to construct 75MW power plant

PHILLIMON MHLANGA

ALLIANCE Africa Energy is set to construct a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Chegutu district, Mashonaland West Province, with a capacity of 75 megawatts (MW).

The power company has since applied to the energy sector regulator, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), to establish the proposed power plant.

In addition to the power plant, Alliance Africa, will also construct a two kilometres power line from the proposed plant to Selous substation.

“The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has received an application from Alliance Africa Energy (Private) Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain a 75MW solar PV power plant at Fairhole Farm, Chegutu District, Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe,” ZERA said.

“The application intends selling the power generated to Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company. The project will also include the construction of approximately two kilometres of a 132kv transmission line from the proposed 75mw solar plant to Selous 330/132kv substation.”

Zimbabwe, is rich in solar energy resources, with an estimated annual radiation of more than 1 600kWh/m2 and it’s suitable for the construction of PV power plants.

Alliance Africa’s project comes at a time when the Zimbabwe’s electricity situation is dire, with consumers being subjected to long hours of rolling blackouts daily due to dwindling water for electricity generation at Kariba Dam. The situation has been exacerbated by aging thermal power stations at Hwange, Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare, which experience frequent breakdowns. The power plants have surpassed their life span of 25 years.

At peak periods, national demand is 1 800MW. But, the power utility, ZESA, is generating about 1 000MW. To cover for the short fall, ZESA is importing from regional power utilities especially Eskom of South Africa and Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique.

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