STORY: China-funded power expansion project brings relief to Zimbabweans
DATELINE: Aug. 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:36
LOCATION: Harare
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of people walking and President Mnangagwa commissioning the Hwange Power Station
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, Zimbabwean President
3. various of the power station
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Shona): DAVID JIMU, Engineer in Zimbabwe
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): TAPIWA TEMBO, Zimbabwean business owner

STORYLINE:

Experiencing power blackouts had long been the norm for Zimbabweans due to depressed power generation. 

But the country is now energy sufficient following the completion of a China-funded power expansion project, according to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, Zimbabwean President
"I'm told now that we have adequate power for the current economic activities in the country, there is no load-shedding for now, but we still have other projects which we are designing to increase the production or generation of power in Zimbabwe."

The Hwange Power Station is the country's largest thermal power plant.

Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation undertook the expansion of units 7 and 8 of the coal-fired power station, which added two generators with a combined capacity of 600 megawatts.
 
Unit 7 is already feeding into the grid after the successful completion of tests in June. Unit 8 is undergoing tests and is expected to be available commercially this month or in September.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (Shona): DAVID JIMU, Engineer in Zimbabwe
"When we were experiencing power cuts, we had a challenge that the generator could not power large machines, and using generators meant that fuel expenses were eating into our profits."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): TAPIWA TEMBO, Zimbabwean business owner
"We sell perishable goods, so basically we need a constant supply of electricity. When you look at the situation since the improvement of electricity, we can see that our business is now operating in a better manner."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harare.
(XHTV)