eBusiness Weekly
Kudakwashe Mhundwa BH 24 reporter
THREE Independent Power Producers (IPP`s) have approached the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) seeking to be granted power generation licences.
The energy industry regulator revealed this in notices published in the media today.
If implemented, Zimbabwe’s power deficit gap could be slashed significantly. Zimbabwe currently covers its power deficit with imports from Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora-Bassa and South Africa’s Eskom (350 Megawatts combined).
Mopower Solar (Private) Limited has submitted a proposal for the biggest project, as it plans to construct, own, operate and maintain a 100 megawatt (MW) Solar Plant at Orient Farm of Sombula in Gweru, Midlands Province.
Zororo Energy Company (Private) Limited and Guruve Solar Park are both seeking to construct 50 MW and 5,5 MW respectively.
To date Zera has issued IPP licences of well over 40 as Government forges ahead with efforts to grow private sector participation in power generation.
The measures will complement various large scale projects by Government to improve power security in Zimbabwe.
“Notice is hereby given that the Zimbabwe Energy Regularity Authority (ZERA) has received an application form Monopower Solar Private Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain a 100MW solar plant at orient farm of Somabula in Gweru, Midlands Province.
“The applicant intends selling the power generated to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and distribution Company. The project will also include the construction of a 6 kilometre 13 Kilovolt (KV) transmission line to connect the proposed solar plant to the existing Chertsey Gweru 132 KV Substation,” ZERA said.
Government has been working to reduce the country’s power import bill by embarking on new power generation projects with the ultimate goal being to make Zimbabwe a net power exporter in the near future.
Presently, the average maximum daily power demand is about 1 600 megawatts, against a backdrop of an average internal generation capacity of about 1 200 megawatts.
There are also plans by RioZim to construct a 2 400MW thermal power station in Sengwa–Gokwe and Batoka Power Project along the Zambezi River that also has potential to generate 2 400MW to be shared equally between Zambia and Zimbabwe
