Zimbabwe and China sign $1.5bn energy deal

The Zimbabwe government and China's Sinohydro Group Ltd signed a 1.5-billion-dollar energy deal Friday, dpa cited local media as reporting.
Energy Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire hailed the deal as a 'huge step in resolving the current power deficit,' in the southern African country plagued by energy shortages.
The installation of two power stations at north-western Hwange thermal power plant are due to add 600 megawatts of energy to the national grid, expanding current generating capacity by 50 per cent.
Mavhaire said the new power stations were slated to be completed within 3.5 years.