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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
AN independent power producer, Yellow Africa (Pvt) Ltd, has tendered an application to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) seeking to establish a 100MW solar plant in Ntabazinduna. “Zera has received an application from Yellow Africa Private limited to construct, own, operate and maintain a 100MW solar power plant for the purpose of generation and supply of electricity in Zimbabwe,” said Zera in a notice.

“The name of the generation station would be Ntabazinduna Solar Plant. It will be implemented in phases of 50MW each. The proposed plant will generate electricity using solar radiation at Ntabazinduna or Mbembesi Communal lands in Umguza Rural District Council in Matabeleland North.”

The energy regulatory authority urged those with objections against the establishment of the new solar plant to come forward.

“Any person desiring to make representations on this application as advertised, may within 14 days from the last day of this publication, lodge a written representation with Zera. Any objections or representations received after the 14 day period shall not be considered by the Authority,” said Zera.

The government has reported that it has licensed 13 independent renewable power producers, some of which are already operational while others are working on starting.

Three small hydro plants presently operational are Nyamigura (1.1MW), Pungwe A (2,7) Duru (2,2MW) and Pungwe B (15MW) in Manicaland province.

The Great Zimbabwe Hydro (5MW), Kupinga station (1,5MW) in Chipinge, Osborne Dam plant (2, 5) and Rusitu plant are set to open soon.

On biomass energy Tongaat Hullet is operating Triangle Sugar Mill (45MW) and Chiredzi Sugar Mill (33MW).

The Chisumbanje Ethanol plant by Green Fuel is operating an 18 megawatt plant while Border Timbers Sawmill plant is also running a small power project.

In the pipeline is the exploitation of massive gas reserves in Lupane and plans to set up a gas fired power plant set to contribute 300 megawatts to the national grid.

According to Zimbabwe Power Supply (ZPC) daily power production update, as of yesterday, internal power generation stood at 1,171 MW.

Hwange Thermal Power Station was producing 425MW against installed capacity of 920MW, Kariba Power Station 670 MW, Harare Station 20 MW, Bulawayo 40MW and Munyati Station 16MW.