Zimbabwe Promotes Solar Energy Uptake

By Wallace Mawire Zimbabwe is promoting the uptake and use of solar energy with new projects planned to be initiated in 2018. According to Isaac Chiridza,Senior Energy Development Officer with the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, three solar power plants are expected to be on board by 2018.The plants will be installed at Munyati, Gwanda and Insukamini. Chiridza said that about 400 solar mini-grids were installed in rural schools and clinics with a capacity of 0.84 Kilo-Watts. Also 525 solar mobile units were distributed to schools, police posts, national parks and health care centers in the remote areas of Zimbabwe.Solar water pumping systems are also doted around the country. Development partners have also developed a 99 KW solar system in Mashaba. A number of independent Power Producers have been licensed to date.