https://www.veritaszim.net/node/6097

Dec. 20, 2022

Cabinet approved  agreement amending the SADC Protocol on Energy. SADC Ministers responsible for Energy agreed to review and rationalise the SADC Energy Protocol of 1996 thereby aligning the development of the energy sector to current trends. Amendment makes provision for the use of new and renewable energy sources, and seeks to promote low emission technologies in order to reduce the energy sector’s impact on the environment.

Progess made in the development of the Great Zimbabwe Mini Hydro Power Station in Masvingo Province

Great Zimbabwe Mini Hydro Power Station in Masvingo Province - 95% completion of access road; Lease Agreement with Zim Parks signed; contract for the construction of the transmission line is to be signed mid December 2022
 

Zimbabwe -Belarus Framework Agreement for the construction of a solar power plant approved

Cabinet considered and approved the Framework Agreement between Zimbabwe and Belarus. The Framework looks into construction of a 100MW solar power plant in Norton

Zimbabwe seals a 500MW power deal

Zimbabwe Government signs master agreement addendum with Skypower Global for the building of a 500mw solar power station

Oil and gas drilling begins in Muzarabani

Australian firm Invictus Energy with backing from government starts drilling for oil and gas at the Mukuyu Well in the Muzarabani Basin.

US$14 million Mutirikwi power plant construction gathers place

US$14 million Mutirikwi power plant construction gathers place

Construction of Ethanol Storage Tanks 96% Complete

The construction of the 6 000 cubic metres of ethanol storage tanks in Harare is 96% complete.

A Guruve solar project worth $4,75 million is expected to feed 10 Megawatts into the national grid this year

A Guruve solar project worth $4,75 million is expected to feed 10 Megawatts into the national grid this year with two megawatts ready to be connected in May. Guruve RDC chief executive said the solar project is one of the biggest projects which will also benefit Mbire district in power supply. It was started in 2018 by New Sahara Ventures in collaboration with the local authority. New Sahara Ventures is enjoying a tax and rate holiday and will contribute 5% to the Community Share Ownership Trust.
 

Infrastructural Development

Cabinet approves the joint venture agreement between City of Harare and Gogenix BV which will see the delivery of the waste-to-energy project which is expected to generate up to 22MW of electricity. Under the deal, the investor will design, build, operate and transfer the Pomona waste management facility to an energy plant.

USD$45 Million Dollar Renewable Energy Program for Zimbabwe Approved

The UN SDG-Fund will provide USD 10 million to the initiative, while the Zimbabwean government, through the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), and local partners such as Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG), Zimnat Asset Management, and CABS, will contribute a total of USD 35 million. The four-year initiative, which is set to begin in April 2022, was established in collaboration with UNESCO (lead agency), UNWOMEN, UNDP, and the Zimbabwean government.

The Ministry of Energy and Power Development produced a National Renewable Energy Policy.

The Ministry of Energy and Power Development produced a National Renewable Energy Policy provide energy access to all in a sustainable manner by increasing the contribution of renewables in the country's energy mix with the goal to increase access to clean and affordable energy through the addition of installed RE capacity of:

•  One thousand one hundred Mega Watts (1,100 MW) by the year 2025 or (16.5%) of the total generation from RE sources, whichever is higher; and
•  Two thousand one hundred Mega Watts (2,100 MW) by the year 2030 or (26.5%) of total generation from RE sources, whichever is higher

Launch of Centragrid Solar Park in Nyabira.

Centragrid in Nyabira was officially commissioned bye Cde Oppah Muchinguri on behalf of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The 2,5 megawatts will in the next nine to 12 months, be upgraded to 25 megawatts. The project will employ 250 skilled workers and 500 general hands.

solar power had been installed at 129 of the targeted 150 primary care clinics

The Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino Chiwenga advised that solar power had been installed at 129 of the targeted 150 primary care clinics during the current cycle.

66 MW of new PV projects

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) reported that seven solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 66.6 MW are now in advanced stages of construction and are expected to be grid-connected by end of this year.

ZESA introduces Net Metering which allows customers to sell excess solar power

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) advised its valued customers that the power utility introduced the Net Metering Programme.The Net Metering programme is a scheme where customers generating solar energy on their premises can feed excess power back into the ZETDC Network through a grid-tied inverter. Any existing customer with a grid-tied solar system up to their rated power from ZETDC qualifies for Net Metering and can apply to connect to the grid upon completion of the relevant application forms that are obtained from their nearest ZETDC depot.

Zimbabwe launches renewable energy, biofuels policies

Government has launched the National Renewable Energy Policy (NREP) and the Biofuels Policy of Zimbabwe (BPZ), documents that will guide the investment and production of clean energy alternatives in the country. The policies emanate from the National Energy policy of 2012 and seeks to achieve a 33 percent reduction in greenhouse carbon emissions by 2030. Launching the policies, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the blueprints will give guidance towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 that ensures affordable and sustainable energy.

Roll out of the 20MW Harava Solar Project (HSP) and a 60 hectare Irrigation Scheme.

Moves to finalise the construction of the 20MW Harava Solar Project (HSP), a few kilometres south-east of the capital, have shown a good example of how it is possible for Zimbabwe to tap into green energy.

Despite the difficult operating environment, Zimbabwe is pushing by all means necessary to complete solar energy power plants, as it seeks to boost its use of renewable energy over the coming years.

Identification of bio-gas digester sites and construction of biogas digesters in Masvingo and Matabeleland North provinces.

Identification of biogas digester sites has been competed, while construction of the same is in progress in Masvingo and Matabeleland North provinces under the Bio-degradable Solid Waste Management Project;

Signing of a 2 000 megawatts solar power deal with United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a 2,000 megawatts solar power deal, which will go a long way in solving Zimbabwe’s power deficit once implemented in 18 months.

The first phase is production of 1,000MW, roughly the same size as Kariba South Power Station’s output, when operating at full throttle.

Signing of an MOU with Life Academy on Cooperation in the Field of Energy

Cabinet considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Zimbabwe and Life Academy on Cooperation in the Field of Energy.

The memorandum provides a governing framework for cooperation and investment in the development of renewable energy sources, thereby boosting the use of clean energy in the country. The memorandum of understanding underscores Government’s commitment to enhance local generation of energy, which is expected to lead to increased access to affordable, reliable renewable energy and access to electricity by the vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

National project status for Harava Solar venture

Government has granted national project status to the 20MW solar farm being constructed in Bwoni Village, Seke rural, at a cost of almost US$25 million by Harava Solar. Projects awarded national project status get preferential treatment, which includes exemption from paying import duty and other taxes. The granting of national project status is expected to speed up the implementation of the key project which comes at a critical moment when the country is contending with long hours of load shedding due to low water levels in Kariba Dam and obsolete equipment at thermal power stations.

Government waivers duty on solar equipment

Government has approved a duty waiver on solar equipment and allowed mining firms to procure energy directly from the Southern African Power Pool. Further, selected hotels in resort areas will soon start paying electricity bills in foreign currency, as part of a raft of measures to overcome energy problems bedevilling the country. In the fuel sector, Government directed the urgent rollout of a remote tracking system by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) and warned that errant service stations involved in profiteering will have their licences revoked.

Zimbabwe and Zambia grant General Electric Co. (USA) and Power Corp (China) bid to build USD4 Billion Hydroelectric power project.

Zimbabwe and Zambia chose General Electric Co. and Power Construction Corp. of China to build a $4 billion hydropower project straddling their border, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said. The 2,400-megawatt Batoka Gorge plant has been planned for years by the two southern African nations, both of which are struggling with electricity shortages after a drought curbed hydropower output. General Electric and Power China are in a consortium that was shortlisted to build the facility.

ZERA licencing more Independent Power Producers

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) expects to licence about 12 more independent power producers (IPPs) in 2019, a development which, if implemented, could see the country’s power deficit gap slashed significantly. Eleven independent power producers were licensed in 2018.