- Matshela Energy, owned by former acting Eskom CEO Matshela Koko, last month concluded a power purchase agreement with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company for a solar power plant.
- This comes at a time when existing PPA’s in Zimbabwe are not being honoured. Read more
- Zimbabwe faces rolling blackouts on a daily basis and cannot afford to buy imported power from neighbouring countries who want payment in US dollars upfront. Read more
In a statement announcing the deal, Matshela Energy MD Koko said delivering a 100MW solar power plant with 40MWh of battery storage will be “one of the largest renewable energy and storage [projects]in Zimbabwe and the region”.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) granted Matshela Energy a generation licence in 2019 to construct, own, operate and maintain the plant at Gwanda in Matabeleland south. Read more
Related news: Matshela Koko’s faces imminent arrest in South Africa
Under the power purchase agreement, the company will produce 100MW solar energy for Zimbabwe’s national grid when complete.
“We have come a long way since we started with this project. We shall not falter. The people of Gwanda have been good to us, and we owe it to them to succeed,” said Koko.
Related news: The role Matchela Koko played in the sabotage of Eskom
The power firm said it is working towards financial closure under Zera’s stipulated timelines.
“We are confident the government support agreement will be concluded within the stipulated period,” the company said.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
