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A Zimbabwean company has partnered with a Germany investor for the establishment of a $400 million solar power project in Marondera that will produce 150 megawatts.
De Green Rhino Energy Private Limited, a joint venture between Zimbabwean company De Opper Trading and a power firm run by German solar power experts Green Rhino Energy, will establish the solar photovoltaic power station expected to increase electricity supply on the national grid.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (zera) confirmed the development in a statement yesterday.
“The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (zera) has received an application from De Green Rhino Energy Private Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain a 150MW solar power plant for the purpose of generation and supply of electricity in Zimbabwe.
“The project would be implemented in modular units of 50MW.
“The proposed plant will generate electricity from solar in Marondera, Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe.
The application by De Green Rhino Energy Private Limited has been done in terms of the provisions of Section 40 of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19) of 2002,” read the statement.
The project is part of the $5,2 billion investment the company intends to make over 15 years in several solar power stations around the country and is expected to produce 2 500 megawatts, more than doubling Zimbabwe’s current electricity output of 1 100 MW.
A capacity of 50MW is planned for the first phase, which will cost the firm about $130 million and the company will upgrade to 100MW at a total cost of $339 million.
A report from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) showed that Kariba remains the main electricity source with 37,28 percent, followed by Hwange with 28.67 percent, Munyati at 1,44 percent, Bulawayo 1,24 percent, and Harare at 0,46 percent.
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