Ariston plans solar expansion after massive power savings
ARISTON Holdings Limited, a listed agricultural company, says its investments in solar projects have led to significant financial savings and the group now plans to expand its solar infrastructure by installing additional solar plants.
The largest investment so far is a solar plant at Southdown Estate in Chipinge.
The plant is integrated into the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) grid through a net metering arrangement.
The solar energy plant has been a game-changer for Southdown Estate, with a storage capacity of 1,2 MW, allowing it to harness the power of renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint.
By tapping into the sun’s energy, the estate has reduced its reliance on generators, which were previously a significant expense.
Building on this success, Ariston intends to establish new solar installations at Roscommon, Clearwater and Kent Estates to address power outages and reduce the high costs associated with generator use.
In a trading update for the first quarter ended December 31, 2024, company secretary Anesu Museta noted the positive outcomes from the solar energy plant commissioned at Southdown Estate in July 2023.
“This project has resulted in significant cost savings whilst safeguarding environmental resources through use of a renewable energy source.
THE Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has advised customers countrywide to pay outstanding bills or risk disconnection.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC)
“It is the group’s intention to install further solar plants at Roscommon, Clearwater and Kent to mitigate against power outages and the resultant cost of using generators.”
Ariston’s strategy aligns with the broader trend of companies across various sectors investing in solar energy to reduce reliance on the national grid and improve operational efficiency.
This move also supports the Government’s initiative to encourage independent power generation.
In addition, Zimbabwe is boosting solar power and to a lesser extent hydropower, as part of a Government strategy to reduce energy-related emissions by about a third by the end of 2030.
Regarding operational performance, tea production during the period under review reached 496 tonnes, a 31 percent decrease from the previous year’s 716 tonnes.
The drop is attributed to extreme heat and dry conditions experienced in the first quarter. Macadamia harvesting is set to begin in April, with early assessments showing a better nut set compared to the same period last year.
Macadamia sales volumes were 52 percent lower, with 132 tonnes sold in the prior period.
However, export prices are showing improvement, and the global oversupply situation from the Covid-19 era appears to have stabilised.
“Early indication is that demand for macadamia nuts will be firm and improved prices are expected as buyers are approaching the group for macadamia offtake agreements for the season,” the company said.
In addition, 660 hectares of row crops have been planted this year, with expectations of a strong yield.
Tea sales volumes for the quarter stood at 388 tonnes, down 27 percent from 530 tonnes in the previous comparable period.
Average selling prices for both export and local sales remained stable compared to last year.-vhrovnile