| Hwange Thermal Power Station | |
|---|---|
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| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Location | Hwange |
| Coordinates | |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1984 |
| Commission date | 1987 |
| Operator(s) | ZESA |
| Constructor(s) | Merz & McLellan Watermeyer Legge Piesold & Uhlman Griniker Roberts |
| Turbine information | |
| Manufacturer(s) | ICAL Babcock Power MAN Alstom Ansaldo Energia |
| Power station information | |
| Primary fuel | Bituminous coal |
| Generation units | 4 x 120 MW 2 x 220 MW |
| Power generation information | |
| Installed capacity | 920 MW |
The Hwange Thermal Power Station is the biggest power plant in Zimbabwe with an installed capacity of 920 MW. The plant was built during the 1980s, its location was chosen because of its proximity to coal fields.[1] It is owned and driven by the national electricity company ZESA Holdings (Pvt) LTD..
Technical problems due to neglect of maintenance, part replacement and upgrading make the plant prone to frequent production stops. In 2009, Namibia's NamPower made agreements to help ZESA to revive the plant’s capacity in exchange for power deliveries.[2] The extensive problems are however continuing and have even led the government to considering a full close-down of the plant.[3]