- Zimbabwe’s energy regulatory authority, Zera, has approved the development 39 solar power projects
- Zera’s acting chief executive officer, Eddington Mazambani, confirmed the approval and said the projects will require an investment of over US 2.3billion and will have capacity to generate up 1,151.87MW.
“The authority has so far received and processed a total of 39 solar energy projects, with six of them now functional, two are under construction and 31 are yet to be developed,” said Mazambani.
Mazambani added that the solar projects are at the following stages of development:
- Three projects with a total capacity of 111MW are at concept or pre-feasibility stage.
- Twenty two projects are at feasibility and technical studies’ level and have capacity to generate 885.1MW.
- Three projects with capacity to generate 70MW are at feasibility or proof of bankability stage.
- Three projects are at funding stage and can generate up to 53.3MW when concluded.
- Two projects at construction stage with capacity to feed 25MW into the national grid when completed.
- There are currently six operational projects are delivering 7.47MW into the grid.
Mazambani also confirmed that Cabinet has approved the implementation of a large-scale programme to promote the importation, local production of solar equipment and the use of solar power as an alternative energy source.
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
South Africa’s state owned energy utility, Eskom, recently resumes supply of 450MW to Zimbabwe after a payment agreement had been reached. Read more
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
