Zimbabwe will continue to explore alternatives and renewable sources of energy in place of coal, in line with the Paris Agreement to combat climate change Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa revealed this week after a cabinet meeting.
This comes after Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu went for the 25th Conference of Parties (COP 25) in Madrid, Spain where countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement through their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which are to be achieved by 2030.
“Dialogue will also need to be initiated with SADC Member States on the implications of the call to phase out the use of coal in order to arrive at a common position which can be articulated at International fora,” Mutsvangwa said.
Zimbabwe aims to reduce emissions by 33% per capita in the energy sector by 2030.
Ironically, Zimbabwe is has been working on expanding its largest coal power plant, being also the 14th largest thermal station in the Southern African region, the Hwange Power Station increasing electricity generation capacity to 1520MW from 920.
Mutsvangwa said, “Zimbabwe together with other developing countries are, concerned by the call to phase out coal usage in thermal energy generation and other industrial processes.”
“This is in view of the dwindling water resources in the country owing to recurrent droughts which in turn constrain hydroelectric power generation.”
Over 40% of electricity generated in Zimbabwe, which is already a shortage, comes from coal energy plants.
Coal production is expected to increase to 15 million tons this year, with new miners venturing into fossil fuel production.
The country’s carbon dioxide emission per capita was 0.77 metric tons according to statistics.