Independent power producers (IPPs) are spearheading power generation projects with a combined capacity of over 16,000 megawatts (MW) to help close Zimbabwe’s growing electricity supply gap.
This was revealed by Eddie Cross, chairperson of the Intensive Energy Users Group (IEUG), during last week’s Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe annual conference in Victoria Falls.
IPPs are mainly drawn from the mining and industrial sectors. They are investing in solar, coal, and hydroelectric projects to secure a reliable energy supply amid ongoing blackouts and rising electricity tariffs. Said Cross:
We’ve accepted the challenge from the President [Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa]. At this moment, we have around 16,000MW of new power production under development: 2,000MW (solar), 2,000MW (coal) and 12,000MW (hydro). If we can deliver this at competitive rates, we will solve our problems as the private sector.
The Intensive Energy Users Group represents Zimbabwe’s largest electricity consumers, spanning the mining, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.
Cross said private players are currently building five coal-fired power stations and four hydroelectric plants, with the bulk of the funding coming from Chinese investors.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s fast-growing lithium sector alone will require around 350MW by the end of the year, while ferrochrome producers could need as much as 2,000MW.
Cross also revealed that both the European Union and the British government are now offering concessional financing to support Zimbabwe’s solar projects and broader energy transition.
Zimbabwe’s peak electricity demand exceeds 2,000MW, but domestic power generation remains unreliable, fluctuating between 1,000MW and 1,400MW.
More: NewsDay
All this investment and we’re still in the dark.
But we paid the Chinese to fix units 7 and 8 … what happened ???