- Zimbabwean independent power producer (IPP) Power Ventures has submitted a solar PV project proposal and licence application to Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
- The IPP wants to build a 108 MW photovoltaic solar power plant in Chidome Ward district, Hwange in western Zimbabwe.
Power Adventures says it will construct, own, operate and maintain the facility along with putting in place a transmission line to connect it to Hwange substation.
The power will connect to grid via the substation that already exists in the Hwange district. The energy produced will be sold to Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) under a long term PPA.
The company states that the project will create 1,000 jobs by the end of 2019. ZERA has opened the proposal for public/stakeholder comment through a public notice published last month.
Eskom recently resumed power supply to Zimbabwe after reaching a payment schedule agreement. In May Eskom cut power supply to Zimbabwe from 450MW to just 50MW pending full payment. Zimbabwe last month paid Eskom US 10 million after not paying the South African utility since October 2018. An additional US 23 million is still outstanding to Eskom.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission & Distribution Company (ZETDC) implemented a wide scale load shedding programme in May 2019 plunging the country into darkness. The country has been forced to cut power generation at their Kariba Dam power plant due to low water levels. The dam, on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, is only 34% full and cannot generate electricity at optimal capacity. The utility is also facing generation constraints at Hwange Power Station
Related news: Zimbabwe’s head of Energy and Power Development, Minister Fortune Chasi also recently fired the entire ZESA Board Friday amid the load shedding crisis the country faces. Read more
More related news: The Minister also recently announced that he is contemplating cancelling over 30 Independent Power Producer contracts because the projects have never materialised. Read more
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
