PHILLIMON MHLANGA
The future of coal-powered power stations in Zimbabwe hangs in the balance as government makes frantic efforts to comply with climate change proofing measures which will result in the phasing out of fossil fuel by 2030.
Four out of five of Zimbabwe’s power stations are thermal-powered and the new regulations could result in the country lurching into a quandary following a Paris deal which is exerting pressure on countries across the globe to phase out coal usage.
While other countries across the globe are already falling over themselves to phase out coal usage, Zimbabwe, which is heavily dependent on coal especially for electricity generation, will have to contend with a painful reality.
In its meeting this week, Cabinet, after receiving a report from the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, expressed concern and will not expect a dramatic fall in the use of coal in Zimbabwe, leaving government in a quandary.
Countries across the globe, in their meeting held in December last year in Madrid, Spain, agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to be achieved by 2030.
Given that coal remains the dominant energy mineral in Zimbabwe, the latest situation has presented a huge headache to the government.
The crisis confronting Zimbabwe has been compounded by low water levels at Kariba Dam. The water crisis in the iconic dam, has severely wreaked havoc across industry and households.
The outlook remains uncertain and no one knows when Kariba will get better, leaving coal as the anchor of the economy in terms of electricity generation. This is a haunting nightmare for Zimbabwe which will need to phase-out its four coal-fired power plants. This also means local coal miners will be in trouble.
“Zimbabwe together with other developing countries are concerned by the call to phase out coal usage in thermal energy generation and other industrial processes,” Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said this week.
She added: “This is in view of the dwindling water resources in the country owing to recurrent droughts which in turn constrain hydroelectric power generation. The country will, however, continue to explore alternatives and renewable sources of energy in place of coal.”
Mutsvangwa suggested the need to take the discussion to SADC.
“Dialogue will also need to be initiated with SADC member states on the implications of the call to phase out the use of coal in order to arrive at a common position which can be articulated at international fora,” Mutsvangwa said.
Zimbabwe holds vast reserves of the mineral particularly in the lower Karoo rocks of the mid Zambezi Basin and the Save-Limpopo basin. Major coal miners include Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL), Makomo Resources, Zambezi Gas and Chilota Colliery and Coal Brick are operating in the Hwange District.
HCCL used to enjoy a monopoly in coal production until the arrival into the scene of Makomo Resources, Coal Brick and Chilota Colliery, which have chipped off its market share.
Production was previously confined to the Zambezi Valley but there has been limited coal production from Sengwa coalfields near Gokwe, Mkwasine coalfield near Chiredzi and Tuli coalfield near Beitbridge.
Experts said phasing out coal will leave Zimbabwe on the edge because there are growing signs that it does not look like Kariba Dam will be much better any time soon.
The country’s power utility ZESA is expanding Hwange Power Station, the country’s largest coal-fired plant. It is also looking at repowering the smaller power plants in Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo.
This means there is still a terrible prospects, particularly for Zimbabwe, which in its economic blue print, aims to reduce emissions by 33% per capita in the energy sector by 2030.
This also means it will be difficult for government to pull a surprise and eliminate the use of coal in 10 years’ time.
Meanwhile the Environmental Management Agency has been accredited by the Green Climate Fund to become a National Implementing Entity.
This, Mutsvangwa said, will enable the country to receive climate change adaptation funds directly through the entity. About 25% of carbon tax will be allocated to the National Climate Fund as co-financing contributions.
