Thathile Investments licensed to establish 4,4 megawatts power plant
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has granted Thathile Investments (Private) Limited a greenlight to establish a 4,4 megawatts photovoltaic power plant at Turk Mine, Bubi District in Matabeleland North Province.
With the demand for energy supply increasing in response to growing investment in the country, captains of industry and commerce are working closely with the Government to drive more investments into renewable sources of energy.
In July this year, Thathile Investments (Private) Limited sought a license to set up a 4,4 megawatts solar plant for its own consumption in Bubi district.
According to the regulatory authority the photovoltaic plant will be connected to the grid through a 33kv feeder from Turk 132/88/33kv substation.
“The generation licence is hereby granted to Thathile Investments (Private) Limited hereinafter referred to as the Licensee) in terms of Section 42 of the Electricity Act to construct own, operate and maintain the 4.4 MW solar photovoltaic power plant at Turk Mine, Bubl District in Matabeleland North Province for the purposes of generation and supply of electricity for own consumption but connected to the grid,” reads part of the notice from Zera.
“Subject to the Electricity Act and the terms and conditions of this licence, the licensee shall generate electricity for captive power for own consumption by Thathile Investments (Private) Limited,” said Zera.
This comes at a time when the country’s economy is registering strides under the Second Republic, which has rejuvenated domestic and foreign investor confidence through comprehensive ease of doing business reforms.
The implementation of many high-impact economic projects across different sectors demands massive power generation and supply capacity, which the power utility, Zesa, cannot achieve alone.
In response, several private sector players have started rolling out new energy projects focusing on renewable power such as solar to ease the burden of load shedding and anchor continuous operations.
In the 2023 National Budget statement, the Treasury revealed that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has licensed more than 60 independent power producers (IPPs) in the renewable energy space, with a capacity to generate 2000MW with the number continuing to increase with the coming in of new players.
Energy efficiency is critical under the National Development Strategy (NDS-1), which builds momentum towards the achievement of an upper middle-income economy vision by 2030.
Companies like Caledonia Mining Corporation have taken the lead by establishing a 12MW solar project at its Gwanda-based Blanket Mine, which will meet about 27 percent of the company’s total daily electricity demand.
Diversified agro-industrial concern, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, has also invested in a 564 kilowatts solar power plant for its factory in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South province, which intends to generate power from the proposed solar plant for its own consumption. —chronicle
