(Last Updated on November 16, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – The Zimbabwean government plans to supplement Dema substation with a 200MW emergency diesel power plant.
In Zimbabwe, the Energy and Power Development Permanent Secretary, Partson Mbiriri, last week confirmed that three foreign companies have tendered to install an emergency diesel power plant at the Dema substation in the Seke District, east of Zimbabwe, in attempts to lessen power shortages across the country.
The emergency power plant is expected to provide 200MW to the national grid by February next year, The Herald reports.
Pending submissions for proposals
Dema subsation will later be complemented by an additional 120MW emergency power plant that will come from the Mutare Peaking Power Plant, which is predicted to take under 18 months to complete.
Mbiriri stated that the State Procurement Board has been notified of the development, meanwhile proposals from the three potential bidders were expected to be submitted by Tuesday last week.
“Following Cabinet’s decision that a 200MW emergency diesel power plant be established at Dema substation, Seke, a technical committee has already been constituted and three potential bidders were asked to submit their proposals on 10 November 2015,” Mbiriri said.
Addition to Dema substation – hikes tariffs
Although Mbiriri would not reveal the three companies, sources close to the developments told The Herald that the companies include Agrekko, a global energy specialist, APR Energy and Altaaqa Global from the Middle East.
All the companies have experience of doing projects at short notice in a number of African countries such as Angola, Cameroon, South Africa, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Zambia and Senegal.
Mbiriri emphasised that diesel power plants are costly, which means every household will have to be on either a prepaid meter or a smart meter.
“It is an established fact that diesel power plants are expensive. Zesa Holdings must prepare for this high operating cost by ensuring that more customers are put on prepaid meters or smart meters,” he concluded.