Zimbabwe Utility Plans 300 MW PV

• Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) plans to develop 300 MW solar power capacity
• This would be the first time it will foray into the domain of solar power
• The 3 projects of 100 MW capacity each will be located in Gwanda, Matobo and Munyati
• For the 3 solar power projects it expects investments of $570 million

Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) plans to develop 300 MW solar power capacity in the form of 3 projects of 100 MW capacity each.  

The 3 plants will be located in Gwanda, Matobo and Munyati, according to a report on news portal The Source. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) was quoted as stating, "Notice is hereby given that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has received an application from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) (Pvt) Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain the proposed 100 MW Insukamini Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant at Valindre Farm of Matobo district in Matabeleland South Province."

This is the first time ZPC is entering the solar power sector. On its website, in an undated update, ZPC has mentioned that the construction of three greenfield solar power projects in Gwanda, Insukamini and Munyati is likely to take 2 years to complete with an estimated project cost of $570 million.

ZPC has recently approached the State Procurement Board to cancel a $113 million contract for the Munyati Thermal Power Station owing to delay in securing funding for the project. However, it wants to extend the 750 MW Kariba Power Station capacity by a further 300 MW, with help from Chinese companies.

In May 2017, African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a $965,000 grant for a 20 MW off-grid rooftop PV project in Zimbabwe (see 20 MW Zimbabwe Project Gets SEFA Grant).