Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has urged the private sector to invest in renewable energy projects to ease power deficit in the country. Zimbabwe’s power firms have been encouraged to establish more power plants to curb with the power shortage in the country.
The country is facing power deficit as currently it can only produce 1 300MW against an average demand of 2 200MW.
Zera executive Gloria Magombo has said that private sector could play a bid role to supplement the several governments’ power projects being undertaken to curb shortage of power in the country in the next five years.
“We’re encouraging companies to invest in renewable energy sources such as solar so that electricity produced by the businesses is used for their own operations and where there’s excess power produced it can then be fed into the national grid,” said Ms Magombo.
She also blamed illegal electricity connections for massive accidents in the sector, with 219 accidents experienced between 2012 and 2014 according to ZERA.
The country, which is suffering power deficit, announced it would invest US$2.5bn in a hydro power plant and has been rehabilitating Kariba power plant.
