Zimbabwe to push SADC sustainable energy agenda

22 Jan, 2025 - 16:01 0 Views
Zimbabwe to push SADC sustainable energy  agenda

Business Writer

Zimbabwe will participate in the rescheduled inaugural Southern African Development Community (SADC) Sustainable Energy Week in Botswana, which aims to promote sustainable energy practices in the region.

The conference, themed ‘Accelerating Sustainable Energy Solutions for an Energy Secure SADC Region,’ will take place in Gaborone from February 24 to 28. Originally scheduled for December last year, the event focuses on opportunities in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and programs along the energy value chain.

SADC member states have long faced electricity deficits that hinder socio-economic development. A reliable energy supply is crucial for economic sectors, especially as regional utilities implement load shedding to address the crisis.

The conference will cover critical topics including policy development, financing, grid integration, energy efficiency, renewable technologies, clean cooking, energy storage, and other transitional issues.

The 2024 SADC Sustainable Energy Week is co-hosted with the 6th International Off-grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC), the 8th SOLTRAIN Regional Conference, and the Global Network of Sustainable Energy Centre (GN-SEC) meeting.

“Overall, the event will create a platform that will bring together diverse relevant stakeholders who include SADC energy institutions, which facilitate the growth and development of the sustainable energy sector in Southern Africa such as the SADC Secretariat, the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) and the Regional Energy Regulators Association (RERA) of Southern Africa, government ministries, policymakers, utilities and regulators.

“The private sector including investors and developers, researchers as well as financiers among them development finance institutions (DFIs), multilateral finance institutions (MFIs), commercial banks, and institutional investors,” reads part of the outline.

According to the programme, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Cde July Moyo, is part of the speakers that also include SADC executive secretary, Mr Elias Magosi and regional energy ministers.

The region’s energy mix relies heavily on coal and hydropower, which account for 59 and 24 percent of generation, respectively.

Although the uptake of renewable energy has increased over the past few years, more drastic measures are required to bridge the power gap.

Energy experts say this is where waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies emerge as a dual solution to both energy shortages and the mounting waste management crisis exacerbated by rapid urbanisation and population growth.

The SADC Secretariat has identified waste management as a critical developmental challenge, with uncollected waste and illegal dumps proliferating in urban areas.

Zimbabwe is leading the way in this initiative, exemplified by Geo Pomona Waste Management Private Limited’s ongoing project.

 

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