More and more African countries are deciding to turn to private power producers (PPPs) to increase their capacity. While programmes are being launched in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia to encourage them to invest, Zimbabwe had not yet taken the plunge. However, the desire to liberalise the energy sector was part of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s programme, who has just been elected as the leader of Zimbabwe. The initiative of four private companies will undoubtedly speed things up as they have just submitted licence applications to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera).
Gombe Power Solutions, Tugwi Mukosi Hydro Power Company, Kefalos Cheese products limited and Solar Systems Limited are planning projects that will generate 160 MW of electricity.
An opportunity for the State
Gombe Power Solutions is a company specialised in the production of electricity from solar panels. It has the largest project. The project involves the installation of a solar photovoltaic park in the province of Western Mashonaland. It would produce 100 MW of electricity. ZERA points out that the Gombe Power project also includes “the construction of a 20 km 132 kV line linking the solar power plant to the Selous substation owned by Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC)”.
Tugwi Mukosi Hydro Power Company is also one of the IPPs applying for a licence. The authorisation would allow it to build a 15 MW hydroelectric power plant in Masvingo province.
Also in this central Zimbabwean province, Triangle Solar Systems Limited is planning to build a 45 MW photovoltaic solar power plant. The last project is that of Kefalos Cheese Products Limited. This company specialising in the manufacture of dairy products would like to build a hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 0.5 MW in Eastern Mashonaland. Here, the energy produced would be used to power the industrial company’s facilities in the city of Marondera. For the other IPPs, the energy would be sold directly to Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), the state-owned company responsible for electricity distribution.
Jean Marie Takouleu