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Batoka Gorge project on course for implementation

28 Nov, 2018 - 17:11 0 Views
Batoka Gorge project on course for implementation

eBusiness Weekly

HARARE – Preliminary works on the 2 400  megawatt Batoka Gorge hydro-electric power plant will start in January  next year as Zimbabwe moves to become energy self-sufficient, a Cabinet  Minister said on Tuesday.

The $5.2 billion plant, which will be situated a few kilometres  downstream the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, will be a joint  venture between Zimbabwe and Zambia who will share the electricity  equally.

Zimbabwe is currently producing about 1 300 megawatts against a demand  of over 2 000 megawatts, and relies on regional imports to cover the  deficit.

In a post Cabinet briefing, Acting Information, Publicity and  Broadcasting Services Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said the project would  start soon.

“Cabinet received a report from the Minister of Energy and Power  Development on progress made towards the operationalization of the  Batoka Hydro-Electric power project,” he said.

“More specifically, Cabinet was advised that following a recent visit,  delegations from China Power and General Electric, contractors on the  project, preliminary works on the project were now scheduled to start in  January, 2019.”

Meanwhile, Ndlovu said Cabinet had also received a progress report by  the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on parastatal reform.

Government has earmarked 43 public enterprises for restructuring,  partial privatisation, departmentalisation and performance review.

“Cabinet noted with satisfaction the considerable progress already  registered with the various entities now at different stages of their  reformation,” he said.

“Cabinet resolved to consider in greater detail submissions on two  public enterprises at each meeting with effect from next week. More  specifically at its next meeting Cabinet will consider detailed  submissions on the resuscitation of Zisco Steel and the partial  privatisation of Chemplex Corporation.”

He said Cabinet had also approved various priority projects under the 100 day programme.

These, he said, included, an accelerated national solid waste  management project, strengthening small scale miners’ capacity to comply  with environmental regulations to be implemented by the Ministry of  Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will implement the  provision of science teaching and learning materials in primary schools  and construction of additional learning facilities in schools, among  other projects.

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare will review  and integrate the Basic Education Assistance Module, social cash  transfer, health assistance, public assistance and food mitigation  programmes within a single management information system. – New Ziana

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