108 MW Solar Project Proposed In Zimbabwe

• ZERA in Zimbabwe has been approached by Power Ventures (Private) Limited to develop a 107.77 MW solar power plant in the country
• Power Ventures has proposed to develop the project in Chidome Ward in Hwange district of Matabeleland North province
• The company says it will construct, own, operate and maintain the facility along with putting in place a transmission line to connect it to Hwange substation
• ZERA is asking for written representations from interested stakeholders to comment on the same by July 26, 2019

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) is in receipt of an application to approve the development of a 107.771 MW solar power plant in the country. Independent power producer (IPP) Power Ventures (Private) Limited is the applicant that's seeking a license for the proposed plant to be located in Hwange district in Matabeleland North province.

Referring to a public notice issued by ZERA, local daily newspaper The Chronicle reported the plant will be constructed, owned, operated and maintained by the applicant in Chidome Ward. Power generated by the project is proposed to be sold to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).

Power Ventures will also construct a transmission line to connect the proposed plant to the Hwange 33 kV substation. ZERA has called for public opinion on the project which needs to be submitted latest by July 26, 2019 in the form of written representations.

Zimbabwe needs power as Hwange and Kariba, large coal power stations in the country, are not operating at optimum capacity while rising demand for energy has been leading to major power cuts as of late, according to the news report.

A number of solar power projects are being processed in Zimbabwe while other renewable small-scale power projects are at different stages of implementation, according to the news report.

In January 2019, ZERA received an application from local ammonium nitrate fertilizer company Sable Chemical to seek license for a 50 MW solar power plant in the Kwekwe with plans to eventually scale it up to 400 MW (see 400 MW PV Plant Plans In Zimbabwe).

In April 2019, local media reported Labacorp Power Company America wants to develop 900 MW of grid connected solar power plant in Zimbabwe in association with its local partner Craft Properties (see US Firm Proposes 900 MW Zimbabwe Solar Farm).