BY CHIEDZA KOWO/VANESSA GONYE
ZIMBABWE is expected to commission more than 25 megawatt (MW) electricity projects this year from independent power producers (IPPs), while a cumulative output of 10MW will be derived from solar projects.
This was revealed yesterday by Energy minister Zhemu Soda during the launch of the Distributed Renewable Energy Taskforce, where he also disclosed that more than 80 IPP projects were licensed since 2010, but only 20 projects were developed.
He said in 2020 alone, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority licensed 22 renewable energy projects with a capacity of more than 700MW, while the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) installed over 400 solar mini-grids at rural schools and clinics.
“The majority of these units are now being upgraded to ensure ability to power computers for edutainment purposes. REF will also upgrade all solar mini-grids which were installed in the earlier programme of 2006-2015 from 0,84kW to 5kW, 10kW or 15kW depending on the size of the institutions.
“All in all, 347 primary schools, 56 secondary schools and 10 government institutions will be covered under this upgrade programme during National Development Strategy. The aim is to target the less privileged so they can access their online lessons at a faster rate.”
Soda said his ministry had also been working closely with the private sector in renewable energy projects.
“Two companies have distributed more than 45 000 pay-as-you-go systems and 10 000 solar home systems, respectively, in off-grid areas such as Mhondoro, Bikita, Manama and others. The ministry facilitated duty-free importation of equipment, national project and prescribed asset status for these and other projects.”
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Zimbabwe has had electricity challenges for over a decade.
