GOVERNMENT has identified biogas as the next frontier in expanding rural energy access in cattle-owning communities in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces.
Energy and Power Development minister July Moyo said households with sufficient cattle should embrace biogas technology to complement conventional electricity, particularly in sparsely populated rural communities where extending the national grid is costly.
“We believe that all these people can use biogas because they have the requisite number of cattle,” he said.
“You only need eight cattle to have a very good biogas situation.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the commissioning of the Majindani electrification project in Umguza district last week, Moyo said biogas systems could provide clean cooking energy while also generating other forms of energy for households, reducing dependence on firewood and easing pressure on the electricity network.
The call comes as government continues expanding rural electrification across Zimbabwe.
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Moyo revealed that, as of June 15 this year, 11 414 projects and households had been electrified through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The programme has connected 3 256 primary schools, 1 647 secondary schools, 1 086 rural health centres, 497 government extension officers’ offices, 311 chiefs’ homesteads and 1 397 business centres, among other public institutions and community facilities.
The minister said the programme improved living conditions while creating economic opportunities for rural communities through increased access to electricity.
At Majindani, REA constructed 8km of power lines to connect Majindani Primary School, three business shops and a community borehole.
Moyo said the electrified borehole should be the foundation for irrigation and agricultural production, calling on the school and community to establish gardens supported by water storage infrastructure.
He urged local leaders to mobilise resources for JoJo tanks and expand irrigation to strengthen food security, particularly in anticipation of drought conditions associated with El Niño.
While acknowledging electricity supply challenges facing Zimbabwe and the wider southern African region, Moyo said government was simultaneously investing in alternative energy technologies.