The two-year delay in constructing the 100MW Gwanda solar
plant has prejudiced the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) of more
than US$50 million in unrealised revenue, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking in an interview after visiting the site on Friday,
Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi said the solar
plant was supposed to have been commissioned by December 2017 and delays in
implementing the project had resulted in the loss of sales by Zesa equivalent
to 500GWhs (Gigawatt-hours) and potential revenue loss of about US$50 million
as of June this year.
Intratek Zimbabwe Private Limited – a company owned by
businessman Mr Wicknell Chivayo – was awarded the tender in 2015 and was paid
US$5 million by ZPC for pre-commencement work.
After receiving the money without a bank guarantee, no
meaningful development has taken place at the site.
“100MW is a lot of power. This project was supposed to have
been commissioned by December 2017 and delays in implementing the project had
resulted in the loss of sales by Zesa equivalent to 500GWhs and potential
revenue loss of about US$50 million as of June this year.
“We are trying to generate power, conserve power in order
to reduce our import bill for power, so this project is very important for us
to generate power here. Once this project is up and running, we would have
saved a significant amount of money,” he said.
Minister Chasi expressed disappointment as no work has been
done at the site of the project despite the US$5 million payment that was made
to Intratek.
He said the solar project was a crucial initiative that
would address the current electricity challenges.
Government, he added, was going to engage Intratek as they
expected a refund or to see an operational solar plant.
“I can’t explain the level of depression that I am
experiencing right now given the power situation in the country. My expectation
was to see some magnificent amount of work. As a Ministry and Government, we
feel let down and we are now going back to look at this situation,” he said. Sunday
Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment