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Harare Bureau
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has so far licensed five solar projects valued at $250 million which are expected to produce 160 megawatts (MW). Zera chief executive Engineer Gloria Magombo told our Harare Bureau yesterday that licensed solar power projects are at different stages within the Project Development cycle.

“Some of the projects are at Pre-feasibility stage, some have conducted feasibility studies including Environmental Impact Assessments and are moving towards Project Financing and Power Purchase Agreement stage,” said Engineer Magombo.

She said the value of the projects varies as project promoters’ source their materials from different countries but the estimated cost of the five projects is about $250 million.

The five projects include De Green, Geo-base, Yellow Africa, Plum Solar and Oursun. She said the country is also expected to benefit from an approximately 3x100MW solar projects to be funded by the Zimbabwe Power Company which are still at the tendering stage.

Engineer Magombo said the Rural Electrification Agency has several solar mini-grid projects which are at rural health centres and rural schools across the country.

“There are also several small scale solar projects across the country that are powering different equipment and providing lighting at household, company and farm level.

“The rural energy master plan (which is currently being developed by the Rural Electrification Agency) will provide a more accurate evaluation of the level of solar energy penetration in rural settlements in the country,” she said.

Zimbabwe is among the countries in Southern Africa with the best conditions for solar photovoltaic energy and is currently attracting investors into the sector.

Zera was commissioned by the government to develop a feed-in tariff policy, aimed at boosting private sector participation in the development of renewable energy sources.