STORY: Zimbabwean president commissions Chinese-funded power plant expansion project
DATELINE: Aug. 5, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:07
LOCATION: HWANGE, Zimbabwe
CATEGORY: ECONOMY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project in Hwange
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, President of Zimbabwe
3. STANDUP (English): TAFARA MUGWARA, Xinhua Reporter
4. various of Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project in Hwange
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Zimbabwe's Minister of Energy and Power Development
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (ENGLISH): ZHOU DING, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JI XIAOYONG, President of Sinohydro Corporation
 
STORYLINE:
 
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday commissioned the Chinese-funded Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project in Hwange, about 780 km from the capital Harare.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, President of Zimbabwe
"We now are energy sufficient in this country, but of course as a result of the continued growth of our economy, we shall need to continue to make other plants and have more energy."
 
STANDUP (English): TAFARA MUGWARA, Xinhua Reporter
"Chinese firm Sinohydro undertook the expansion project which is expected to meet Zimbabwe's energy needs.
In recent months, Zimbabweans have been enjoying an uninterrupted supply of electricity owing to the successful completion of this project."
 
Two new generators, Unit 7 and Unit 8, have been added to the existing six units at the power plant.
 
Unit 7 is already feeding into the grid after the successful completion of tests in June, while Unit 8 is undergoing tests and is expected to be available commercially soon.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Zimbabwe's Minister of Energy and Power Development
"These new units at Hwange Power Station represent our collective determination to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to the people of Zimbabwe. Together let us efficiently harness this additional 600 megawatts to propel our nation towards vision 2030 of becoming an upper-middle-income economy."
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (ENGLISH): ZHOU DING, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe
"Today we are not just celebrating the completion of a great project. We are also celebrating the great relationship between our two great nations."
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JI XIAOYONG, President of Sinohydro Corporation
"This achievement serves as a shining example of the remarkable results that can only be achieved through cooperation and innovation between Zimbabwe and China."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hwange, Zimbabwe.
(XHTV)