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Local solar power producer Solar Shack plans to construct a solar power plant with capacity to produce 120 megawatts at Chaka Hills Farm in Marondera.
Solar Shack provides solutions for Africa’s energy provision and management matters and concentrates on finding sustainable solutions that meet Africa’s current and future requirements for affordable clean energy.

In an interview with The Herald Business yesterday, Solar Shack managing director Mr Tawanda Tawengwa confirmed the company’s earmarked investment in Marondera, where huge investment is expected.

“I can confirm that we are planning to start a solar project in Marondera with capacity to produce 120 megawatts.

“The project is in the pipeline and we have signed MOU with our partners but overall we are still in the preliminary stages,” said Mr Tawengwa.

According to energy industry experts, projects of such magnitude may cost about $30 million.

He said the company was engaging South African partners who would provide technical and financial assistance.

Mr Tawengwa said they have already engaged the Environmental Management Agency who have since visited the place.

Local and foreign investors have stepped up efforts to introduce affordable clean energy following another investment by a local company, De Green Rhino Energy in the same area.

De Green Rhino Energy announced its intention to construct a 150-megawatt solar farm project early this year.

The Marondera solar farm, projected to cost $400 million, is part of the $5,2 billion investment that De Green Rhino Energy intends to make over 15 years in several solar power stations around the country earmarked to produce 2 500 megawatts.

De Green Rhino is a partnership between London-based Green Rhino Energy, run by German solar experts and a local company De Opper Trading.

Government offered De Green Rhino Energy 375 hectares in Marondera for the project.

Green Rhino Energy is engaged in project development of large-scale solar and waste-to -energy plants in South Africa, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Puerto Rico and India

Analyst Mr Joseph Sagwati told The Herald Business that these solar companies are viewed as an augmentation factor because the national energy position is precarious.

He said at full capacity, ZESA could still not meet local demand.

“The coming in of solar projects is a welcome development that would add a significant power to national grid,” said Mr Sagwati.