The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
AS the world shifts towards green energy and economies which limit the scope on thermal power whose raw material, coal, Zimbabwe has in abundance, President Mnangagwa has said there is need for the country to refocus and look at developing solar, gas and more hydro-electric projects.
Writing in his weekly article to the nation which is published in this paper, President Mnangagwa noted that the country’s power requirements were gradually increasing as the nation’s capacity utilisation was on a positive trajectory.
He revealed that from as low as 47 percent in 2020, Zimbabwe’s industry capacity utilization stood at 66 percent by end of 2021.
“For Zimbabwe to industrialise sustainably, she requires sufficient energy. Presently, we face a deficit on our energy needs. This deficit continues to grow day by day as our mines reopen and our industries recover and expand. From as low as 47 percent in 2020, our industry capacity utilisation stood at 66 percent by end of 2021. It continues to grow in 2022 and beyond. That means our power needs continue to gallop in sympathy with this industrial upturn.
“While Kariba Hydropower project has been our energy mainstay, its reliability is subject to water levels in the Zambezi River.
As we saw recently, this can no longer be guaranteed in these times of climate change. The shift to green energy and economies limits scope on thermal power whose raw material, coal, we have in abundance. With that background in mind, real possibilities lie in developing solar, gas and more hydro-electric projects,” said the President.
He said with respect of gas and hydroelectricity, Mozambique offers huge opportunities both for immediately augmenting the country’s power supply through more imports, and in medium to long term, through new energy projects built on a joint venture basis.
The President further noted that the projected gas pipeline from Buzi to Mutare should offer new possibilities, as too, does the Mpanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Project whose power generation capacity is remarkably stable, thanks to water from Zambezi, Kafue and water that flows from Malawi.
“Zimbabwe should team up with Mozambique’s power authority EDM, whose thermal gas project I had occasion to visit during the recent historic State Visit to that sister country. I am aware that we have our own thermal gas in Lupane which needs tapping.
“The insights we got through our visit to EDM thermal gas electricity generation plant, leaves us clearer on how to go about it, and where to source technologies both for tapping the gas and harnessing it for energy and fertilisers. Lupane gas project will ensure multiple gains for our country, now that our water reservoir at Gwayi-Shangani, and the water pipeline to Bulawayo are on course to completion and execution, respectively,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the country should have two gas-related projects, the Mutare feeding off gas fields of Buzi in Mozambique, and the Lupane gas project.
“We wait with bated breath for outcome to exploration work currently underway in Muzarabani where we are hopeful a third plant will develop. Before long, Zimbabwe must have a robust gas industry to power its agriculture and meet its energy needs.
We also found a solution to protect our power grid from copper-cable vandalism,” said President Mnangagwa.
