Gwayi Mine power station
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Gwayi Mine power station is a proposed 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Zimbabwe, sponsored by China Africa Sunlight Energy.
There is also a 1,200 MW proposed coal plant at Gwayi, sponsored by Shanghai Electric Group, Shenergy Co Limited, and Nan Jiang Group: Gwayi power station (Shanghai).
Contents
Location
The map below shows Bulawayo province, the approximate location where the plant would be built.
Background
China Africa Sunlight Energy, a 50/50 joint venture between Zimbabwe’s Old Stone Investments and Shandong Taishan Sunlight of China, is planning a 600 MW power station and coal mine at its Gwayi concessions in Matabeleland north. The coal mine and power station would be the first phase of a US$2.1 billion project that would eventually include a 2,200 megawatt thermal power station, a gas extraction plant, and a coal brick factory, among others. The coal mine is expected to produce 300 million metric tonnes of thermal coal per annum. The projects are being funded by the China Exim Bank.[1]
The company submitted a mining environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the project in 2013. Construction works on an initial 600 MW coal station was planned for 2014, with operation of the first 300 MW unit planned for December 2016 and the second in 2017,[1] both later pushed to 2018.[2]
The company secured a 600 MW generation license from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority in September 2014.[3]
In March 2015 China Africa Sunlight Energy said it was waiting for financial closure to begin infrastructure development on the project. The company said the second 300 MW plant would focus on coal-bed methane gas extraction.[4]
In December 2015 China-based Yunnan Linkun Investment Group acquired a 50 percent shareholding in China Africa Sunlight Energy and said it plans to invest an initial US$700 million towards the development of the Gwayi coal project.[5]
In June 2016 it was reported that construction on unit 1 was planned for the end of the year, at an estimated cost of US$2.1 billion. Construction on unit 2 is planned for 2017.[6]
A January 2017 article stated that two private sector agreements had been signed between the "International Business of China" and China Africa Sunlight Energy for the Gwayi plant and for coal and methane gas mines. It is unclear whether "International Business of China" refers to a specific company and whether the article refers to agreements made recently or in earlier years.[7]
In May 2018 it was reported the project hung in the balance "due to funding constraints."[8]
Project Details
- Sponsor: China Africa Sunlight Energy
- Parent company: Yunnan Linkun Investment Group, China Africa Sunlight Energy
- Location: Gwayi, Zimbabwe
- Coordinates: -20.17, 28.58 (approximate)
- Status: Shelved
- Capacity: 600 MW (Units 1 and 2: 300 MW)
- Type:
- Projected in service:
- Coal Type:
- Coal Source: Gwayi mine
- Source of financing: China Ex-Im Bank
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Chinese firm starts work on Gwayi coal mine, thermal power station," The Source, Dec 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Sino-Zim power deals take off," The Herald, Jan 7, 2015
- ↑ "Zimbabwe: Chinese Firm to Fund Gwayi Power Project," The Herald, Sep 8, 2014
- ↑ "China Africa Sunlight Energy awaits financial closure," Chronicle, Mar 19, 2015
- ↑ "Zimbabwe: Chinese Group Acquires Stake in Sunlight Energy," All Africa, Dec 3, 2015
- ↑ "Zim’s US$2bn power project resumes after two years," Zimbabwe Independent, June 16, 2016
- ↑ Tendai Mugabe, "Zim, China joint ventures set to expand: President," The Herald, January 28, 2017
- ↑ "Zim to sign $700m coal-bed methane deal," The Herald, May 4, 2018
