China-developed station adds more power in Zimbabwe

The first of two 150,000 kw hydro-generator units of the Kariba South Power Station Extension Project, built by a Chinese company, was activated on December 24, 2017, reports Xinhua.

Photo shows the new hydro-generator unit in the Kariba South Power Station Extension Project in Zimbabwe, December 25, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Sheng Guochao]

Built by Sino-Hydrid Corporation, both 150,000 kw hydro-generator units will be activated in March, 2018, bringing total capacity from 750,000 kw to 1.05 million kw. The project starting in 2013 is expected to increase total power for Zimbabwe by between 20% to 30%.

Photo shows the Kariba South Power Station Extension Project in Zimbabwe on December 25, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Sheng Guochao]

Total cost of the project was around 355-million US dollars, a majority of which was financed from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Zimbabwe suffers from chronic power shortage due to a variety of geographical and historical issues.