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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
THE Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has intensified the roll out of renewable energy technologies across the country to complement grid electricity and reduce demand for power.

REA public relations and marketing executive Johannes Nyamayedenga told Business Chronicle in Bulawayo last Thursday the parastatal was installing domestic and institutional biogas digesters, mini and micro hydro projects in rural communities.

He said the programme was in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) that seeks to empower rural communities through increased power generation to support productive sectors.

“Since the beginning of the biogas project in 2013 we’ve so far completed 34 institutional biogas digesters and we’re left with 30 which are at different stages of completion throughout the country,” said Nyamayedenga.

“We’ve intensified renewable energy technologies to complement the national grid which we all know at the moment can’t cope with demand.”

Zimbabwe has a national demand of about 2,200 megawatts but presently generates 1,200 megawatts.

“We’ve also noted that renewable energy technologies such as biogas digesters and solar projects will go a long way in making sure that we meet our target of having electrified all rural communities by 2030.

“We want to make sure that everyone has access to electricity in line with the Zim-Asset and can eke a living from small projects,” he said.

Nyamayedenga said REA was also working with partners such as SNV in building domestic biogas digesters and is targeting 200 digesters this year.

He said through the partnership they have so far built 67 domestic biogas digesters that villagers were using for cooking and lighting at homesteads.

“Under the programme, we’re empowering local villagers through training on building biogas digesters and REA has trained 25 villagers while SNV has trained 76.

“In addition to biogas energy we’re also into mini and micro hydro projects with a non-governmental organisation, Practical Action, which is building power plants while REA develops power lines to the communities,” said Nyamayedenga.

During the 2013-14 period, he said, the parastatal completed five hydro power projects.

“This year we’re looking at completing two mini hydro power projects; one at Manyuchi Dam in Masvingo and another at Muzoro River in Nyanga,” he said.

Nyamayedenga also said REA has completed 415 mini and micro grid solar projects in public institutions since 2002 when the agency was established.