By Savious Madanhire
As communities endure the hardships of load shedding, Zimbabwe and Zambia joined forces to form a bold new energy strategy, with solar energy at the forefront of their plan.
The two countries are currently facing acute power outages due to low water levels at Kariba Dam.
To address these challenges, the Zimbabwe-Zambia Energy Projects Summit was convened in Victoria Falls, focusing on bolstering investment and stimulating economic growth in their industrial and energy sectors.
The summit, themed “Powering Zimbabwe and Zambia’s Sustainable Energy Future,” seeks to unlock opportunities in renewables, grid modernization, and energy access.
However, Zimbabwe’s Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), unveiled ambitious plans to end power shortages and load shedding by 2030.
ZESA executive chairman Dr. Sydney Gata revealed that projects generating 3,000MW are currently underway, aiming to provide universal access to electricity and eliminate load shedding altogether.
“The Zhong Jin Heli project, expected to produce 300MW in Hwange, began in November and will be completed by March next year. The Titan Project, a 720MW coal-fired plant also in Hwange, will deliver power by December next year. A 100MW coalfield project in Beitbridge and the 200MW Jinan solar project in Gweru are set to come online by December 2024.”
In total, these projects are part of a broader $787 million transmission initiative tied to Vision 2030.
This electrification roadmap will connect over 2.4 million households, including 1.7 million solar home systems, 527,000 grid connections and nearly 5,000 microgrids.
Meanwhile, other innovative projects are in the pipeline and these include floating solar panels on Kariba Dam, wind energy plants and new partnerships for coal and solar power generation.
Dr Gata revealed, “We have 1,020MW of projects awaiting ground-breaking and 450MW pending approval.”
This roadmap is aligned with Vision 2030, positioning Zimbabwe as a future energy exporter while addressing domestic power needs.
Dr. Gata emphasized the importance of addressing risks to ensure success, including investment, currency and implementation risks hence regional integration and special laws supporting energy sector investment are vital for overcoming these challenges.
With this ambitious plan, Zimbabwe is poised to transform its energy landscape and become a beacon of hope for its citizens, who have endured prolonged load shedding.
The success of these plans hinges on navigating complex financial and logistical challenges.
