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Zimbabwe is among the few countries in Southern Africa with the best conditions for solar photovoltaic

Business Reporter
Solar projects which include De Green, Geo-base, and YellowAfrica, Plum Solar and Oursun have capacity to produce $160 Megawatts once construction is complete. Zimbabwe is among the few countries in Southern Africa with the best conditions for solar photovoltaic and is currently attracting investors in that sector.

Sinogy Power Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited plans to construct a 175 Megawatts solar photovoltaic power plant at Chapfucheche Farm in Beitbridge for the purpose of electricity generation and supply.

The solar plant will include the construction of a 220 kilometre transmission line for the transmission of power from the proposed Sinogy Solar Plant.

In a statement yesterday, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe confirmed receiving an application for a licence from the solar company.

“ZERA has received an application from Sinogy Power Zimbabwe to construct, own, operate and maintain a 175 MW solar photovoltaic power plant for the purpose of generation and supply of electricity in Zimbabwe.

“The solar project will also include construction of a transmission line from the proposed Sinogy Power Plant to the existing Triangle 132/36KV substation. The proposed plant will be located at Chapfucheche farm in Beitbridge,” said the Authority.

The licence application by Sinogy was done in terms of the provisions of Section 40 of the Electricity Act (chapter 13:19) of 2002.

The country has over the years witnessed erratic power supplies, which have severely affected industry performance.

Last month, the Zimbabwe Power Company signed the country’s first national solar project with private company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, for the construction of a 100 megawatt Gwanda power plant.

The deal paves way for Intratrek and its engineering, procurement and construction partner, CHINT Electric, to start looking for the $202 million required to fund the project In an interview with the Herald Business recently, ZERA chief executive Engineer Gloria Magombo said they have completed the licensing of solar power projects with an estimated construction cost of a around $250 million.

Zimbabwe has high solar radiation averaging 20MJ per square metre and solar energy can be harnessed for pumping drinking water for rural communities, electricity production, powering lights and appliances at rural institutions, and water heating in urban areas.