Dec. 15, 2020
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.
March 23, 2020
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.
June 23, 2020
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.
Dec. 11, 2019
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;
Nov. 28, 2019
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.
Nov. 13, 2019
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.
July 24, 2019
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.
July 17, 2019
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.
June 21, 2019
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.
April 2, 2019
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.
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