ZESA to shut down Hwange Units 6 and 7 for maintenance, assures stable power supply

Samantha Made

Power utility ZESA Holdings will temporarily shut down Hwange Power Station’s Unit 7 for scheduled Class B maintenance from March 2 to March 29, 2025. Additionally, Unit 6 will be taken offline for statutory maintenance from March 15 to May 14, 2025.

The development was confirmed by ZESA Holdings’ General Manager Stakeholder Relations, Communications and Welfare, Dr. George Manyaya, on the sidelines of the ISO recertification of the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in the capital Harare on Friday.

“Hwange Unit 7 will be taken offline from March 2 to March 29, 2025, for scheduled maintenance. Furthermore, Unit 6 will undergo statutory maintenance from March 15 to May 14, 2025,” said Dr. Manyaya.

Despite these planned outages at Zimbabwe’s largest coal-fired power plant, ZESA has assured the public that measures are in place to maintain a stable electricity supply during the maintenance period.

“We want to assure the nation that strategies have been put in place to ensure a steady power supply while maintenance is underway,” Dr. Manyaya added.

Hwange Power Station plays a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s energy supply, and maintenance work is essential for improving efficiency and preventing unexpected breakdowns. While past maintenance shutdowns have sometimes led to power shortages, ZESA’s commitment to stability suggests alternative arrangements, such as power imports or increased generation from other sources, may be in place.

The power utility has been working to strengthen its infrastructure amid rising electricity demand and ongoing challenges in the energy sector.