Innscor Africa’s Baker’s Inn seeks licences to build solar plants in Bulawayo and Harare

INNSCOR AFRICA’S bakery unit, Baker’s Inn, has submitted two applications to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to construct, own, operate, and maintain solar photovoltaic plants in Bulawayo and Harare.

The Bulawayo application is for a 986kW solar photovoltaic plant, while the Harare application is for a 1.23MW plant.
Both licence applications have been submitted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 42 and 46 of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19).

“Notice is hereby issued in terms of section 4(3) of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations, 2008, published in Statutory Instrument 103 of 2008, that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has received an application from Innscor Africa Limited, trading as Baker’s Inn Bakeries, to construct, own, operate, and maintain a 986kW solar photovoltaic plant at Number 6 Leeds Street in Belmont, Bulawayo.

“Innscor Africa Limited intends to generate power from the proposed solar plant for its own consumption. The project will be connected to the grid through the existing Baker’s Inn 11/0.4kV Substation,” reads part of a notice by ZERA.

Meanwhile, David Whitehead Textiles Zimbabwe has also lodged an application to construct, own, operate, and maintain a 3.37MW and a 3.5MW rooftop solar plant in Kadoma and Chegutu respectively.

Another application is from Carrera Ventures (Private) Limited to construct, own, operate, and maintain a 473kW solar photovoltaic plant in Chegutu.

ZERA has also received an application from Agric Value Chain Zimbabwe to construct, own, operate, and maintain a 1.28MW solar photovoltaic plant in Chegutu.

Zimbabwe is witnessing increased investments in renewable energy by local private investors, particularly in solar, as the country seeks to enhance its renewable capacity. Most of these projects are being financed by private companies, insurance firms, and pension funds.

To encourage investment in renewable energy, Zimbabwe is offering incentives such as duty and tax exemptions and granting prescribed asset status to pension and insurance companies.

The Zimbabwe National Renewable Energy Policy, launched in 2019, set a target of achieving a renewable capacity of 1,100MW, or 16.5 percent of the overall electricity supply, by 2025.

By 2030, the goal is to reach 2,100MW, or 26.5 percent of the overall supply, aligning with the country’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The policy also aims to install 250,000 solar geysers, increase the use of institutional and domestic biogas digesters, deploy solar mini-grids and solar water pumping solutions, and promote the adoption of renewable technologies.-chroncile