RYAN CHIGOCHE
Government has finalised crafting the solar energy framework, a move which will now pave the way for more investors to come into the sector, Business Times can report.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said the move was part of government’s efforts to deal with the acute power shortages ravaging the economy.
“Right now we have just finished with the framework that will make it easier to attract more investors,” Ncube said.
He added: “There is a lot of interest in the solar energy sector, especially from the private sector.
“So as a government we are going to see the energy gap being closed. We are going to support investors in the solar energy space.”
Zimbabwe is battling prolonged power outages largely due to low local generation from ZESA’s five power plants in Kariba, Hwange, Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare.
The country requires about 2 200MW. But, the five power plants generate about
1 200 on average.
According to official data obtained from the website of Zimbabwe Power Company, a power generation unit of ZESA, on Tuesday, about 1 247MW of electricity was generated.
Kariba Hydroelectric Power Station supplied 905MW from a possible 1 050MW, Hwange 317MW, Harare (13MW), Bulawayo (0) and Munyati (12MW).
To cover for the deficit, Zimbabwe imports about 300MW from South Africa’s power utility, Eskom and Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa (50MW).
ZESA also imports power from other regional power utilities through Southern Africa Power Pool.
