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Fungai Lupande

Mash Central Bureau

Pfura Rural District Council has engaged a local company, Converse4u Ltd, for the establishment of a US$320 million solar plant expected to generate at least 200MW.

The project is expected to change the face of Mt Darwin whose lower parts do not have electricity due to lack of infrastructure.

The solar project is expected to drive development at Mukumbura Border Post and facilitate its expansion into an economic hub in the province.

Pfura RDC chief executive Mr Stancilea Nyachowe said the plant will be established on 200 hectares and land sighting and pegging are in progress. He said the project will help attract over US$1 billion of foreign investment as the country strives to become an upper middle class income by 2030. Feasibility studies, Environment Impact Assessment report, designs and drawings for the project are in progress.

Mr Nyachowe said the project will create over 2 000 permanent unskilled jobs in the district. “We have engaged two companies, Converse4U and Negomo Pvt Ltd to construct solar plants in the district. They are all homegrown companies with investors outside the country,” said Mr Nyachowe.

“We have signed a contract agreement with Converse4U worth US$2,5 million for the acquisition of 200 hectares of land at Kamutsenzere under Chief Chiswiti.

“The project was stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. It should have started on August 1 this year, but it was put on hold for the next 12 months.” He said Negomo Pvt Ltd has applied for 35 hectares to establish a solar plant, but they have not yet signed a contract with council and allocation of land has not been done.

“The project will provide a reliable source of power for irrigation schemes, aeroponics and hydroponics agriculture and create 2 000 to 3 000 unskilled jobs and up to 2 000 skilled jobs,” said Mr Nyachowe. “The two solar projects will definitely change the face of the district by boosting the district and national economic development in support of the country’s vision of attaining an upper middle income society by 2030,” he said.