Source: Zim taps into Tajik power generation model – herald
Mukudzei Chingwere in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The Government’s quest to revamp energy generation to meet an envisaged industrialisation boom is set to get the much needed international boost through cooperation with one of Asia’s largest electricity generating countries, Tajikistan.
The plans were spelt out here yesterday when Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga toured the Rogun Hydropower Project, accompanied by Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Engineer Amos Marawa and engineers from the Government and power utility ZESA Holdings.
Tajikistan, a country of approximately 10 million people, boasts a huge hydropower potential, producing around 95 percent of its electricity from hydro sources.
According to the World Bank, the Rogun project alone is expected to generate around 3 780MW of installed capacity, making it one of the largest hydropower plants in the world and currently before the completion of the project Tajikistan is a major exporter of electricity to its neighbours.
VP Chiwenga said if Zimbabwe can tap from the Tajik expertise, it has potential to harness its own water resources to not only sustain its electricity demands, but to be a net exporter in the region.
He expressed particular happiness about the employment of Zimbabwean engineers on the project in Tajikistan, highlighting their vital role and the skills they are gaining and their involvement reinforces his belief that Zimbabwe can achieve similar successes at home.
“The Rogun hydropower project, which is currently under construction informs us about what we can accomplish back home by harnessing our available resources to build our own energy capacity,” said VP Chiwenga.
“Without energy, development and economic growth are impossible. In the case of our brothers in Tajikistan, they seek energy for their people, but also supply it to neighbouring countries.
“More importantly, the resilience demonstrated in the project’s planning and the creativity in selecting this location are commendable.
“The coordination among all the companies involved is impressive, we have brought with us Government engineers as well as ZESA and our technical teams here with us assured us that they have learned valuable lessons from this endeavour.
“They have chosen the best equipment, sourcing from multiple countries rather than relying on just one.
“Out of the 18 000 workers on-site at this project, only 1 400 are expatriates, including our Zimbabwean engineers.
“This means that by the time the project is completed, local workers will have gained valuable experience, allowing them to undertake similar projects in the future,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said in his meeting with the Tajikistan President he got the highest assurance of the Tajik’s willingness to assist Zimbabwe in developing its own capacity.
VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe has the human resources and natural resources to achieve what Tajikistan has achieved in power generation.
“We can do it. We must innovate and explore how to optimise our rivers and water bodies, such as the Gairezi and many others,” said VP Chiwenga.
Zimbabwe is investing heavily in the energy sector and this year alone, nine power generation projects are expected to be commissioned, and they will cumulatively add a total capacity of 2 690 MW to the national grid.
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