Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has said that the availability of power is expected to increase in Zimbabwe as more power producers have stepped up.
Ncube also revealed that the government had set aside $8,5 billion to support electricity generation and imports this year as part of efforts to ease load-shedding. He said:
Availability of power is expected to increase as more independent power producers (IPPs) come on line.
He also said that companies which were going off-grid and install solar were to be incentivised. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) on Friday announced that it had received applications from RioZim Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain a 68,4MW solar plant at Murowa Diamond Mine in Mazvihwa Communal Lands, Zvishavane District.
The Herald further reports that RioZim also intends to set up another 38,04MW solar plant at Renco Mine in Nyajena Communal Lands, Masvingo Province, and two 54MW solar plants at Cam & Motor Mine; and Dalny Mine, both in Kadoma, Mashonaland West Province.
Zimbabwe has an acute power shortage at a time when fuel, petrol and diesel, which could have been used as an alternative is also in short supply due to shrinking water levels at Kariba Dam and ageing equipment at Hwange Power Station.
More: The Herald