The Chinese state-run company Dongfang Electric has signed an agreement with Power Construction Corporation of China to supply engines for the modernisation of the 920 MW Hwange coal-fired power plant in Zimbabwe. As per the agreement, Dongfang Electric will supply three engines for two 335 MW coal-fired power units at the facility but the amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
In June 2017, the Zimbabwean government secured US$15m for the project through the Zimbabwe Multi-donor Trust Fund (ZimFund). The facility, operated by Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), is Zimbabwe's largest coal-fired power plant, with four 120 MW units commissioned between 1983 and 1986 and two 220 MW units commissioned in 1987. However, only five of its six units are operational as of June 2017 and it dropped down to 560 MW in the recent years because of equipment breakdown and lower coal supplies. The last unit currently undergoes refurbishment. All the units require overhaul every 5 years in order to maintain the plant's efficiency but ZPC could require as much as US$82m for the maintenance of the plant. China Power sealed the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with ZPC for expanding the power station in July 2017.