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Michelle Moyo, [email protected]

GOVERNMENT remains committed to investing in coal power generation, a crucial component of the country’s energy mix, while also acknowledging the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions.

To achieve this balance, the Government is actively funding research into cutting-edge technologies designed to minimise the environmental footprint of coal power plants, paving the way for a more sustainable energy future.

By investing in innovative technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of coal power generation, the Government is paving the way for a cleaner, more environmentally friendly energy future.

This forward-thinking strategy not only ensures a reliable energy supply but also drives economic growth, creates new opportunities for industries and communities, and sets a shining example for responsible energy development globally.

During a question and answer session in Parliament on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development, Yeukai Simbanegavi, acknowledged that fossil fuels, particularly coal, remain a dominant energy source in Africa, with Zimbabwe being no exception.

The Deputy Minister highlighted the ongoing reliance on traditional energy sources in the region, despite the global shift towards renewable energy alternatives.

“We are looking into how we can even expand the use of coal at Hwange 7, 8 and continue with research into what kind of technologies we can be able to utilise in terms of minimising carbon emissions that we can emit into the air,” said Deputy Minister Simbanegavi.

She revealed that the Government is actively exploring ways to minimise the environmental impact of oil usage in the country, with a focus on developing cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.

This initiative aligns with the nation’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and transitioning towards a more environmentally friendly energy mix.

“We will do it in moderation and gradually, graduating into the use of cleaner technologies, we are still using coal whilst we are looking into other options that we can have.”

Deputy Minister Simbanegavi further outlined Zimbabwe’s rich renewable energy resources, noting that the country is endowed with significant hydro energy potential and an abundance of sunlight.

This abundance of solar and hydro resources presents a significant opportunity for the country to transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the impact of climate change.

“We can be able to use green energy, like using solar energy to power our industries, houses and whatever we may want to use or even in the schools. We can also even use gas which we are currently doing. We are using gas and I will give you an example. If one has a house, one can use electricity for other things and use gas for cooking. So, that is like probably using multiple sources of energy,” said Deputy Minister Simbanegavi.

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