Government and Evergreen Energy sign MOU
By John Nhandara
THE government has entered into a partnership with a private contractor, Evergreen Energy for the construction of a 100-megawatt solar power plant at Munyati Power Station.
The proposed project, modeled on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) model, will cost an estimated US$100 million and will add 100 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
The project dovetails with the government’s National Renewable Energy Policy launched in 2019, which aims to achieve an installed renewable energy capacity of 1100 megawatts by 2025.
“This is part of the National Development Strategy One. It is proposed that the solar plant be built at Munyati station on premises belonging to Zimbabwe Power Company thereby expediting the implementation process.
“The government will benefit much from the BOT agreement by taking transfer of the infrastructure at the end of the concession period,” said the acting Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable Jenfan Muswere.
The project to be implemented in phases will be complete in two years.
“This signing ceremony is the first step towards establishing the 100-megawatt solar plant and we hope we will be done in two years. We are excited to partner with the government of Zimbabwe in this project, ” said Gylnn Chen, Evergreen’s director.
The government is implementing several long-term measures to bridge the gap between electricity demand and supply.
Some of the ongoing projects include the expansion of the Hwange Power Station Units 7 and 8 which is expected to add 600 megawatts to the national grid.
The impending rehabilitation of units one to six will also ensure Hwange Power Station produces its installed capacity of 920 megawatts.
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