Econet begins construction of 100MW solar power plant

STAFF WRITER

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has commenced construction of the first phase of a solar and battery energy project that will ultimately develop into a 100 megawatt (MW) power plant, marking one of the country’s largest private-sector investments in renewable energy as the telecommunications giant accelerates its drive towards energy independence.

The project forms the centrepiece of the company’s planned 800 acre Econet Tech City and is primarily intended to provide reliable, self-generated electricity for Econet’s Harare operations, including its telecommunications network infrastructure, data centres and other mission-critical facilities.

The investment underscores the growing importance of energy security within the telecommunications sector, where uninterrupted electricity has become as critical as the network infrastructure itself. In Zimbabwe, where grid power remains erratic, electricity outages and voltage fluctuations have emerged as one of the biggest operational risks for businesses that depend on always-on digital infrastructure.

An internal assessment by Econet revealed that 58% of all network service quality challenges are linked to power-related disturbances, ranging from prolonged grid outages to voltage instability that can disrupt sensitive telecommunications equipment.

Unlike many industrial operations, telecommunications infrastructure is highly susceptible to even brief power interruptions, with short outages or fluctuations capable of degrading network performance and disrupting customer services.

“Our analysis showed that the single biggest threat to network quality is no longer the telecommunications equipment itself, it’s power,” Econet Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Douglas Mboweni said.

“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 already begun installing solar photovoltaic equipment and battery energy storage systems at the Tech City site. Similar renewable energy solutions are also being rolled out at strategic Econet facilities across the country as part of a broader programme to strengthen network resilience.

Upon completion, the Tech City power plant will supply electricity to Econet’s Harare operations, including its network facilities and data centres. The company ultimately intends to rely primarily on renewable energy, with the national grid serving largely as a backup power source, a significant shift from the conventional model in which businesses depend almost entirely on grid electricity.

“We are fundamentally changing the way we power our business,” Dr 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, excess electricity generated by the solar plant is expected to supply businesses that will eventually establish operations within the planned Tech City, creating an integrated technology and innovation ecosystem powered predominantly by clean energy.

The broader Tech City development is expected to house advanced digital infrastructure, commercial facilities and technology enterprises that will support Zimbabwe’s rapidly expanding digital economy while positioning the country as a regional technology hub.

The renewable energy investment also complements Econet’s wider strategy to enhance network resilience through expanded infrastructure capacity, artificial intelligence-driven energy management systems and ongoing network modernisation.

The company views energy independence as a critical pillar of its long-term business strategy, enabling it to improve service reliability while reducing dependence on an increasingly constrained national electricity grid.

“For us, this is much more than a solar project,” Dr Mboweni said.

“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.”