ZhongXin power station
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ZhongXin power station is an operating power station of at least 50-megawatts (MW) in Hwange, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| ZhongXin power station | Hwange, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe | -18.328292, 26.404754 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5: -18.328292, 26.404754
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | operating | coal - unknown | 50 | unknown | 2022 | – |
| Unit 2 | construction | coal - unknown | 135 | unknown | – | – |
| Unit 3 | construction | coal - unknown | 135 | unknown | – | – |
| Unit 4 | announced | coal - unknown | 300 | unknown | 2025 | – |
| Unit 5 | announced | coal - unknown | 300 | unknown | 2025 | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy [100.0%] |
Background
In December 2019, Xinhua Net reported that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) had licensed a joint venture between Zimbabwean and Chinese investors to establish a 50 megawatt coal-fired power plant. According to the article, "The generation is hereby granted to Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electrical Energy Private Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain the 50MW coal-fired thermal power station which would be located at Deka Bridge Farm in Hwange District in Matabeleland North Province for the purposes of generation and supply of electricity."[1]
In July 2020, it was reported that Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy had started construction of a 6x50 MW (300 MW total) US$10 million coal plant in February 2019.[2]
In September 2020, it was reported that construction on the plant had been delayed by Covid-19, with the first unit planned for commissioning in 2021 and the final unit in 2023.[3]
In May 2021, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) noted the 50 MW unit was "about" to be commissioned. A 13 km power line linking the Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electrical Energy Limited (ZZEE)'s plant and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was being completed to start feeding the initial 25 MW from the project into the grid. The commissioning of the first phase would be followed by two 135 MW units for a total power station capacity of 320 MW.[4][5]
Phase I completed, grid connection underway
In July 2021, construction of phase one reached completion, with work on the substation 99% complete. The power station was expected to produce 25 MW by September and a further 25 MW by October.[6]
According to August 2021 reporting, work on the 13-km power line was 80% complete and power was expected on the national grid by October.[7]
In October 2021, the plant was expected to start feeding 25 MW onto the national grid "within weeks." The status of the other unit was unclear.[8]
A January 2022 article in the Sunday Mail said the plant would begin feeding up to 50 MW into the grid "by the end of next week".[9] Another article in the Chronicle Zimbabwe, published five weeks later, stated that ZZEE was making their "final touches" before coming online. News crews outside the plant noted that smoke was coming out of the plant's chimneys and that workers said that they had been producing electricity for the last few weeks.[10]
As of June 2022, the first unit was presumed to be operating.
Phase II (Units 2-3) expansion
In March 2022, an article in the Chronicle Zimbabwe confirmed that the first 50 MW plant was just phase one, with a 2X135 MW phase two coming next.[10]
Planet satellite imagery from February 2022 to November 2023 appeared to show some progress in construction.
Phase III (Units 4-5) in the works
As of March 2022, there were intentions of a Phase III, which would consist of two 300 MW units to be completed by 2025.[10]
In September 2022, an official from the Zimbabwe ZhongXin Coking Company (ZZCC) stated that the potential Phase II and Phase III were challenged. The project would require US$10 million to reach completion. The company also noted struggles with the project's power purchase agreement (PPA). The agreement said payment would be made in local currency, but the company stated that they would instead need to be paid in forex if the expansion plans were to progress.[11]
As of December 2023, there were no apparent developments on the Phase III expansion.
Coal mining & Opposition
Along with the coal plant, the Zimbabwe government granted concessions to Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy to begin mining for coal within the Hwange National Park. According to the Economic Times, the mining license was granted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government to the Chinese firm in February 2019, and the firm started exploratory work in the park. The mine was planned to cover 105 square kilometers (40.5 square miles) in the Sinematella Camp area of Hwange park, according to court papers.[12]
In response, the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association applied to the country's High Court to stop Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy from mining coal in Hwange National Park, saying it would cause "devastating" ecological degradation and force wildlife to flee.[13]
In September 2020, the mining concessions granted to Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electric Energy were revoked thanks to community opposition.[12]
However, the future of the area may be uncertain.[14]
As of November 2021, Zimbabwe Zhongxin Coking Company has reportedly yet to start coal mining as it was at the exploration stage.[15]
Ownership
A subsidiary of the Zimbabwe ZhongXin Coking Company (ZZCC), the Zimbabwe ZhongXin Electrical Energy (ZZEE) project is a joint venture between Qualisave Mineral Resources of Zimbabwe and Yuxia ZhongXin Coking Company of China.[6]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Zimbabwe licenses Zimbabwe-Chinese joint venture to construct 50MW thermal power plant - Xinhua," Xinhuanet, December 18, 2019
- ↑ "Hwange US$10m power plant construction under way," Mining Zimbabwe, July 3, 2020
- ↑ "50MW power plant commissioning postponed," Mining Zimbabwe, September 28, 2020
- ↑ "Zimbabwe’s energy regulator lauds China for support in energy development," CGTN, May 1, 2021
- ↑ "Zimbabwe set to get 50 MW of electricity from Chinese-Zimbabwean joint venture," Xinhua, March 29, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Construction Completed at Zimbabwe’s New 50MW Thermal Power Plant," Energy, Capital, & Power, July 30, 2021
- ↑ "Coal-fired power station project in Hwange, Zimbabwe to feed 25MW into national grid in 2 months," Construction Review Online, August 14, 2021
- ↑ "Zim in new electricity import deals," October 13, 2021
- ↑ "50MW power station comes to life," The Sunday Mail, January 23, 2022
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Matabeleland North Geared for Growth," The Chronicle Zimbabwe, March 9, 2022
- ↑ "Coal station feeds to national grid," Business Weekly, September 16, 2022
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Under pressure, Zimbabwe cancels mining concessions in national parks," Fin24, September 8, 2020
- ↑ "Zimbabwe group tries to stop Chinese coal mine in game park," ET Energy world, September 9, 2020
- ↑ "Chinese Hwange invasion and disruption of ecological stasis," The Zimbabwe Independent, May 27, 2021
- ↑ "ED Looks At Turning Hwange Into A Giant Coal Hub," New Zimbabwe, November 16, 2021
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
