Story by Tafara Chikumira, Midlands Bureau Chief
The construction of Dinson Iron and Steel Company’s standby thermal power station is progressing well with contractors eying to finish the mega project by the end of this year.
The standby thermal power station, which will generate 50 megawatts will be used to power blast furnaces at the plant.
Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) is setting up the thermal power station to ensure continuous power supply in the event of a breakdown from the main power source.
“The thermal power station is very critical for us. In the event that there is a breakdown to do with the power from the Sherwood Block. When dealing with a blast furnace, there is no point in which it must stop it should be burning throughout,” noted DISCO spokesperson, Mr Joseph Shoko.
“We are doing that with speed and the target is the same for the standby power station so that by the time we start operations the power station must be up and running,” he added.
Works are also in progress for the setting up of a 300-megawatt power station at the Sherwood block which is expected to be the main source of power for the project.
“The survey of the line is already completed because we have an MOU with ZETDC so that project is yet to take place in terms of setting it up but otherwise the survey has been done,” Mr Shoko also said.
“Of course, the relocation of families to be affected by the setting up of the power line.”
“The amount of power according to the plan is more than 300 megawatts so we can’t consume all of that meaning some will be for the national grid and the town to be established will also benefit from the power,” Mr Shoko went on.
15 families are set to be relocated and pave way for the setting up of the Sherwood Block powerline, which will stretch for 100 kilometres.
DISCO, a subsidiary of Tsingshan Group is setting up a billion-dollar steel plant in Manhize in a major milestone which will see Zimbabwe becoming one of the top steel producers in Africa.
