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Sikhulekelani Moyo, Business reporter
PLANS are underway to establish a 5MW coal-bed methane gas-fired power plant in Lubimbi area on the border of Lupane and Binga districts in Matabeleland North province.

An application to set up the Lubimbi Power and Gas (Private) Limited has already been submitted to the regulator, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera).

“Zera has received an application from Lubimbi Power and Gas (Private) Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain a five Megawatts coal bed methane gas-fired power plant in Lubimbi in Lupane district in Matabeleland North province,” said the regulator in a public notice.

Lubimbi Power and Gas (Private) Limited intends to generate power from the proposed coal-bed methane gas for consumption by Rio Energy Private Limited, a subsidiary of RioZim.

Zera said the project will be connected to the national grid through construction of a two-kilometre 33KV overhead line from the Lubimbi plant to Gwayi 33KV feeder.

“The licence application by Lubimbi Power and Gas (Private) Limited was done in terms of the provision of section 42 and 46 of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19),” said the regulator.

So far Zera has received about 100 independent power producer applications with many of them being on solar plants.

The drive for renewed energy is gaining momentum inspired by growing consciousness of environmental interests and climate change concerns.

Government is pursuing big energy projects such as Hwange units 7 and 8 expansion and  that will be complemented by independent power producers. – @SikhulekelaniM1.