IDBZ approves proposed 5MW Gutu solar power plant

THE Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) has approved the proposed 5 megawatts Gutu Solar Power Generation Plant.

The project development started with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding in 2018 between Gutu Rural District Council (GRDC) and the IDBZ.

It was followed by the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Chatsworth Energy (Private) Limited, which was registered in July 2020.

In a statement, the development bank said a Framework Agreement (FMA) was concluded in December 2020 for the development and construction of a 20MW Solar Plant in Chatsworth.

“However, due to the long distance (28km) between the proposed site of the solar plant at Chatsworth and the nearest sub-station, the site was relocated to land which is only 1km away from the ZETDC 33/11kV Sub-station.

“Furthermore, in the light of the Grid Impact Assessment Study commissioned by the Bank and conducted by Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) in June 2021, it was agreed that the maximum capacity that could be safely evacuated by the nearby infrastructure was 5MW.”

ZETDC

Under the Framework Agreement, the IDBZ was to provide funding for the preparation and development of the project while GRDC was to avail leased land for the project.

The land is zoned as a resettlement area and owned by the State. GRDC applied for a 25-year lease from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development. The development bank added that the lease application was approved on October 6, 2023.

In addition to land ownership through the Lease, the GRDC has already commenced land clearing, construction of access road and boundary security fencing.

“For project preparation, the Bank, through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, secured funding from the French Development Agency, AFD, to co-finance the detailed Feasibility and ESIA Studies for the project.

“An open tender was launched and a contract was awarded to SOWITEC Kenya Limited, in partnership with MAZEDECK Ventures (Pvt) Limited (Zimbabwe) in July 2022.

“An EPC Contractor is to be procured for project implementation which is expected to last 12 months.”

The country is scaling up efforts to harness clean energy sources in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which places emphasis on reliable and affordable energy development.

Government has already crafted the National Renewable Energy Policy to achieve and install a renewable capacity of 1 100MW or 16,5 percent of total electricity by 2025.

By 2030, the target is that the installed renewable energy capacity should be 2 100MW or 26,5 percent of the overall electricity supply.

More local companies have started using renewable energy such as solar while broader initiatives such as investing in smaller hydro-power plants, wind and establishment of bio-digesters in rural areas are being worked on.-chroncile