BCC considers joint partnership with ZESA on power station

Millicent Moyo

The Bulawayo City Council has resorted to consider a joint partnership with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) after the power utility proposed to acquire the Bulawayo Power Station in order to upgrade the facility .

ZESA had written to BCC to sign an MOU however, councillors decided to consult residents over the issue.

The local authority now seeks to resuscitate the power station to lessen power woes affecting the city and bring back power security.

Speaking during City Matters on Tuesday ,BCC Accounting Manager Ndumiso Nkiwane said following ZESA’s proposal and engagement meetings with the residents city council has resorted to have a joint venture with ZESA in order to safe guard the city’s interests.

” Let us get into a joint venture because as a local authority we have every right to look for joint venture agreements that will benefit us as Bulawayo . The advanatges are that our interests as Bulawayo are safeguarded because we have a say in these agreements as we bring our strengths and ZESA also brings in its own strengths on the table ” , he said.

Nkiwane added that Government was in the process of acquiring funding to resuscitate the Power station using new technology .

“You will realise that government had already embarked on the repowering project of the Bulawayo power station and sourced funding in 2016 in India. Government acquired a loan to the tune of US $110 milion which was supposed to be utilised for the refurbishment of the power station built in 1947-1957. refurbishment of the plant was going to ensure that new technologies used in generating electricty would be used and at the same time protecting the environment “, he added.

Meanwhile Deputy Mayor, Mlandu Ncube is on record saying Zesa owed council huge amounts for royalties while council was saddled with a huge Zesa debt particularly for street lighting.