Hwange Power Station Upgrade to Commence in Early 2026

Zimbabwe’s largest coal-fired power plant, Hwange Thermal Power Station, is preparing for a major US$450 million refurbishment, with on-site works for Units 1 to 6 scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

Zesa Holdings acting group chief executive officer, Engineer Cletus Nyachowe, said the repowering initiative is designed to improve reliability and stabilise the country’s electricity supply.

The project follows Cabinet’s approval of a 15-year concession agreement between the Government and Jindal Steel and Power. The deal will be implemented under a Rehabilitate, Operate and Transfer (ROT) framework, targeting Hwange’s ageing units that have been prone to frequent faults as a result of obsolete equipment.

In his end-of-year address to staff and stakeholders, Eng Nyachowe described the agreement as one of Zesa Group’s most significant achievements of the year.

“The partnership with Jindal Steel and Power stands out as a major milestone. Finalising the US$450 million concession agreement in December, after extensive negotiations, marks a turning point for both Zesa Holdings and the Zimbabwe Power Company,” he said.

Under the agreement, the first four years will focus on rehabilitating Units 1 to 6, a process expected to boost national power generation by about 400 megawatts within 48 months.

The upgrade will involve replacing key components such as turbines and generators. Commissioned between 1983 and 1989, the six units have a combined installed capacity of 920 megawatts but have been producing between 300 and 500 megawatts due to persistent mechanical challenges.

Upon completion, the units are expected to return to full operational capacity, helping Hwange Power Station reach a total output of around 2 000 megawatts when combined with newer units.

Jindal Steel and Power will fully finance the project, with safeguards put in place to ensure transparent fund management. A joint oversight committee has been established to monitor the investment, with assurances that all funds will be channelled into Zimbabwe through formal banking systems.

Eng Nyachowe also highlighted positive developments within Zesa’s subsidiaries, noting that Zesa Enterprises has scaled up transformer and pole production while securing strategic agreements aimed at recapitalisation.

He added that Powertel Communications continues to strengthen its fibre-optic network and expand its customer base, reinforcing the group’s long-term sustainability.

Looking ahead, Zesa Holdings plans to diversify its energy mix by increasing the share of renewable sources while expanding generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.

“Our focus remains on growth—particularly strengthening base-load generation, integrating renewable energy, upgrading the grid and expanding access through aggressive customer connection strategies,” Eng Nyachowe said.

The planned refurbishment of Hwange Thermal Power Station is expected to play a central role in improving Zimbabwe’s energy security and supporting sustainable economic development.