
A Tour through the Power Station
In my previous life as an advertiser, I worked for renowned companies like ABB, BKW or AEK. So, for me, power supply is not a closed book; at least not when it comes to marketing. I learned a lot during this time. For example, 60% of electricity in Switzerland comes from hydropower and 40% from nuclear power. (I assume that alternative energies such as sun and wind are still a «quantité négligeable»).
Shortly before our departure, we visited an LWK hydroelectric power station in Kandersteg that was holding an open day. (I felt a bit obliged to do this, as we bought two shares in this local electricity supplier.) So, it made sense that we also pay a visit to the Pungwe Power Plant. We did that on October 27th, 2023.
Four turbines (Made in England) produce electricity here, which is fed into the country’s power grid. The system is monitored by three men who work in 8-hour shifts. They were happy about our visit; and we talked shop! The three employees had the most joy when I finally complimented them on their work and concluded with the following words: «Zimbabwe Power for the People of Zimbabwe!» – once an advertiser always an advertiser!
PS: If you want to know more about Zimbabwe’s electricity supply, read here.