A business delegation from South Korea is in Zimbabwe to explore investment opportunities in energy production as the country heads for universal access to sustainable and modern energy to 2030.
The delegation expressed interest in solar energy including the manufacturing of solar water geysers, assembly and subsequent manufacture of solar panels and also exploring the possibility of setting up medium-size solar plants at a number of sub-stations across the country.
Energy and Power Development secretary Partson Mbiriri said investment by South Korean firms, would be the first technical and commercial co-operation in the field of energy according to the Herald, a local newspaper.
“Over the last 2 years Seondo Electric company and Parkmate Investments have engaged ZENT (ZESA subsidiary) with a view to creating a joint venture,” said Mbiriri in the Herald.
It is estimated that the country’s solar capacity stands at 100 GigaWatts for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and 40 GigaWatts for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) according to the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Dr Samuel Undenge.
The 2030 universal access to sustainable and modern energy in Zimbabwe, comes at a time when around 60% of the country’s population is not connected to the National Electricity Grid depriving the majority of using gadgets like refrigerators, electric stoves and television sets.
“Fuel wood is still the dominant fuel in the domestic sector with biomass accounting for 66%of energy use in the country,” Undenge said.
“School-going children who do not have access to the grid are forced to use paraffin, candles and other unclean non-renewable sources of energy for lighting in order for them to study at night. These forms of energy are potentially hazardous to their health.”
Zimbabwe has renewable energy resources that, if well harnessed, can supply 10,000 GigaWatt Hours of energy per year.
The country is trying to attract new investors into the energy sector as Undenge said that the government alone cannot shoulder the immense investment requirements necessary to ensure that the security of energy supply.
The government has been working on the Renewable Energy Policy and Independent Power Producer (IPP) framework which is set to enhance private sector participation.
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