Zimbabwe sets ambitious renewable energy production targets to tackle energy crisis
Amid ongoing power shortages that the country is grappling with, the Zimbabwean Government has developed a renewable energy strategy in which it sets itself an ambitious target to produce 1 100 Megawatts by 2025 and increasing the output to 2 100 by 2030.
Chief director for Expenditure Management in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Percy Takavarasha, said this at a stakeholder engagement meeting attended by captains of industry and Government agencies.
He said the Government is expanding renewable energy capacities, particularly in solar energy and biofuels.
“As part of the Government’s renewable energy initiatives, 107 institutional bio-digesters and 159 domestic bio-digesters were installed nationwide in 2024.
Zimbabwe has abundant renewable energy sources including solar, wind, geothermal and hydro.
“Developing these resources could reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs,” said Takavarasha.
Low water levels at the Kariba Dam due an El Niño-induced drought and continuous breakdowns at the Hwange Thermal Power Station have worsened power shortages in the country.
The country is currently generating about 1 200 MW of electricity, mostly from the coal-fired Hwange plant, against peak demand of nearly 2 000 MW.
Takavarasha said Public- Private Partnerships (PPPs) are key in driving sustainable development and addressing the energy deficit, stressing their role in boosting renewable energy projects and tackling the energy shortfall.
“Beyond energy, water infrastructure is also a Government priority, with several dam projects and widespread borehole drilling underway to counter recurrent droughts.
“A cumulative total of 2 913 wells have been drilled countrywide, and 10 dam construction projects are at different levels of completion.
“The dams will benefit these projects, including power generation from the mini hydro power stations.”
To supplement current energy supplies, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) recently partnered with Titan Energy from China to construct a 720 MW coal thermal power plant in Hwange.
The partnership will see Titan injecting a US$1 billion investment.
In addition, Titan will set up a 200 MW solar plant in Gweru Phase 2.-vsnessweekl
