ZIMBABWE'S drive to liberalise the energy sector and attract private investment will come under the spotlight this week as government officials, power sector executives and investors converge in Harare for a conference aimed at accelerating the country's energy transition.
The two-day Zimbabwe Energy Conference, organised by the Energy Forum for Africa (EFFA) in partnership with Absolom and Shepherd Attorneys, begins tomorrow.The conference comes as Zimbabwe implements reforms under the Energy Act and rolls out renewable energy policies designed to open the electricity sector to privateinvestors amid persistent power shortages and rising demand.
Discussions are expected to centre on investment opportunities across power generation, transmission and distribution, as well as renewable energy development, public-private partnerships and policy reforms needed to strengthen energy security and unlock sustainable financing.
Organisers say the conference seeks to bring together key decision-makers from government, regulators, financiers and industry to identify practical solutions to challenges facing the country's energy sector.
Delegates are expected to explore strategies for mobilising investment into electricity infrastructure, expanding renewable energy projects and improving the regulatory environment to support long-term sector growth.
The meeting is also expected to examine how Zimbabwe can leverage regional power markets and private sector participation to improve electricity supply and support industrialisation.
Among the high-profile speakers expected at the conference are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development Gloria Magombo, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Deputy Governor, chief executives from ZESA Holdings and the Zambezi River Authority, and the Executive Director of the Southern African Power Pool.
Independent Power Producers, energy traders, renewable energy developers, financiers, engineers, consultants and academics are also expected to attend.
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Zimbabwe has in recent years, intensified efforts to attract investment into the energy sector as it seeks to address electricity shortages that have constrained industrial production and economic growth.
Government has identified renewable energy, independent power production and public-private partnerships as key pillars in achieving a reliable and sustainable electricity supply while meeting growing demand.
The conference is expected to produce recommendations on improving the investment climate, strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors, and accelerating projects that can contribute to the country's long-term energy security.
