Staff Reporter
The three day Zimbabwe-Zambia (Zim-Zam) Energy Projects Summit being held at the Elephant Hills resort, Victoria Falls, has facilitated the signing of a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a 100 MW solar project between Grid Africa and Africa GreenCo as well as a 30 MW solar project between Tatanga Energy and Africa GreenCo.
The signing of the MoUs comes at a time when the private and public sectors seek to elevate power generation in both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The MoUs, signed under the auspices of the Zim-Zam Project, underscores a shared commitment to addressing energy challenges in Southern Africa through innovative and collaborative approaches.
Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA), Eddington Mazambani, said the 100 MW MoU signed between Grid Africa and Africa GreenCo would go a long way in powering the mining companies in Zimbabwe.
On her part, the Co-Founder and Director of Tatanga Energy, Memory Mashingaidze said, “As our solar power project with Africa GreenCo increases in size from five (5) MW to 30 MW, there is need to look at factors and models that satisfy international investors.” Mashingaidze commended Government’s open door policy, citing that the market in Zimbabwe is negotiated and open.
Southern Africa faces significant energy deficits mainly due to the effects of climate change. The development has been impeding economic growth and undermines efforts to improve the quality of life for millions. The ZimZam Project’s facilitation of the
MoUs reflects a deep understanding of the energy generation challenges and its proactive role in crafting solutions.
The ZimZam Summit is in tandem with Government’s National Renewable Energy Policy and the Biofuels Policy both of 2019, which are aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Grid Africa, known for its expertise in power infrastructure and renewable energy projects while Africa GreenCo, a pioneer in green energy financing and trading, bring complementary strengths to the partnership.
