Bulawayo residents up against power station decommissioning
Bulawayo residents are up in arms against the decommissioning of the Bulawayo Power Station, citing many possible future problems after its decommissioning.
The power station, which has been in operation for 72 years, is now beyond repair, according to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo. The plant was commissioned between 1947 and 1957 with an installed capacity of 120MW. It was initially run by the Municipality of Bulawayo but was later taken over by power utility, ZESA.
A representative of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, Dr Wayne Malinga has expressed concern about the potential impact of this decision on both the residents of Bulawayo and the employees of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) who work at the power station.
Loss of Industries
According to Dr Malinga, the residents of Bulawayo who work in industries and businesses heavily reliant on electricity for their operations will bear the brunt of this development.
He stated, “Job losses are going to be experienced by both the residents of Bulawayo and Zesa employees working at the thermal power station. For the residents, those working in industries and any other businesses highly dependent on electricity for operations will be adversely affected.”
The Zesa employees, on the other hand, are at risk of facing retrenchment or being transferred to new work stations.
“Zesa employees will suffer retrenchment and in some instances get transferred with their families experiencing moves to new areas or work stations,” Dr Malinga warned.
Job Losses
These potential job losses, coupled with the displacement of families, are likely to have a significant impact on the affected individuals and their livelihoods.
Dr Malinga also emphasised the potential negative consequences for the city’s investment climate. He argued that decommissioning the power station could deter both local and international investors from considering Bulawayo as a viable investment destination.
He explained, “Local, regional, and international investors may avoid Bulawayo due to its perceived instability and ‘bad investment’ image. Many businesses heavily rely on technology and a consistent power supply. Without these crucial factors, business viability suffers.”
Lack of Investors
The representative further stressed that the loss of investors could have a detrimental effect on the local economy, not only in terms of job opportunities but also in terms of economic growth.
“Investors seek profit, and Bulawayo, in its current state, risks experiencing an exodus of existing investors and failing to attract new ones,” Dr Malinga noted.
The Bulawayo City Council and ZESA are embroiled in legal battles over the ownership of the power station, with the local authority claiming that the power utility was legally its tenant. The ownership issue is being addressed, and a system has been put in place.
Decommissioning
However, the decommissioning of the power station has happened without the consultation of the local residents, according to Dr. Wayne Malinga of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA).
Over the years, due to ageing plant equipment, the Bulawayo Power Station has lost its generation capacity. Its output has dropped to around 30 MW per day, and most of the days, the power plant does not generate power due to operational constraints.
The decommissioning of the power station has raised concerns among residents, who fear that it will lead to more power cuts in the country and Bulawayo. The BPRA has called for a resolution to the ownership dispute over the Bulawayo thermal power station.
Proof of Ownership
Dr Malinga argues that the Bulawayo City Council must gather evidence to prove its ownership of the plant. He added that this can include producing the lease agreement signed with ZESA and the title deeds as well to show ownership of both the land and power station, noting that such evidence will go a long way in legally challenging the decommissioning of the power station using substantial evidence.
The BPRA has called for a resolution to the ownership dispute over the Bulawayo thermal power station, and the council must gather evidence to prove its ownership of the plant.
The government must take into account the concerns of the residents and ensure that the decommissioning of the power station does not lead to more power cuts in the country and Bulawayo.
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