Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has begun construction of the first phase of a solar and battery energy project that is expected to grow into a 100-megawatt power plant, marking one of the country's most significant private-sector investments in renewable energy.
The project forms the cornerstone of the company's planned 800-acre Econet Tech City and is designed primarily to provide reliable, independent electricity for Econet's Harare operations, including its network facilities and data centres.
The investment reflects the growing importance of energy security to telecommunications operators, whose networks require uninterrupted power to maintain service quality. In Zimbabwe, where electricity supply remains unpredictable, power disruptions have become one of the biggest operational risks for businesses that depend on always-on digital infrastructure.
Econet says an internal review found that 58% of all network service quality issues originate from power-related disturbances, ranging from grid outages to fluctuations that affect sensitive telecommunications equipment.
Unlike many industrial facilities, mobile telecommunications infrastructure is highly sensitive to even brief interruptions or voltage fluctuations, meaning relatively minor power disturbances can result in service degradation or temporary outages.
“Our analysis showed that the single biggest threat to network quality is no longer the telecommunications equipment itself — it's power,” said Econet group chief executive officer, Douglas Mboweni.
“If we are serious about delivering a world-class digital experience, then we must first guarantee a world-class power supply. That is why we are investing in generating our own clean, reliable energy.”
Chinese contractors have begun installing solar generation equipment and battery energy storage systems at the Tech City site, while similar renewable energy systems are also being deployed at key Econet facilities across the country, as part of a broader network resilience programme.
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Once completed, the Tech City power plant will supply electricity to Econet's Harare facilities, network operations and data centres. The company ultimately intends for grid electricity to serve primarily as a backup source, reversing the traditional model under which businesses rely on the national grid as their principal power supply.
“We are fundamentally changing the way we power our business,” Mboweni said.
“Our objective is for our critical infrastructure to operate independently of the grid for most of the time, using renewable energy backed by battery storage. Reliable power means reliable connectivity for our customers.”
Beyond meeting Econet's own energy requirements, surplus electricity generated by the solar plant is expected to support businesses that will eventually locate within the planned Tech City development, creating an integrated technology and innovation hub powered largely by renewable energy.
The broader Tech City vision includes digital infrastructure, commercial facilities and technology enterprises designed to support Zimbabwe's growing digital economy.
The solar investment also complements Econet's wider programme to strengthen network resilience through expanded capacity, artificial intelligence-driven energy management and infrastructure modernisation, positioning energy independence as a core component of the company's long-term strategy.
“For us, this is much more than a solar project,” said Mboweni. “It is an investment in the reliability of Zimbabwe's digital infrastructure. Every customer depends on our network being available every second of every day, and that requires us to rethink not only how we build networks, but also how we power them.”
