Vusumuzi Dube
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
THE Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) is set to roll out solar power plants at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and other airports across the country as part of efforts to enhance energy sustainability and reduce reliance on the national grid.
The initiative will see the establishment of a 2 megawatt solar farm at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, with similar projects planned for replication at other airports.
Excess electricity generated will be fed into the national grid, contributing to the country’s electrification programme.
Given that Zimbabwe continues to face an energy deficit that periodically disrupts commercial and domestic activities, ACZ’s own power generation is expected to bolster energy security — an essential requirement for aviation operations.
The planned project is currently under evaluation for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement as ACZ seeks suitable investors and the most viable implementation model.
These efforts align with the Government’s broader push to adopt renewable energy solutions amid rising electricity demand driven by economic growth under the Second Republic.
Zimbabwe is scaling up renewable energy investments to achieve universal access by 2030, targeting 2 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable capacity.
Key interventions include duty free solar imports and tax incentives for Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
The Government is working with IPPs and investing in solar, hydro and mini grid projects to diversify the national energy mix.
ACZ public relations and communications manager Mr Tonderai Mangombe told Zimpapers Business Hub that the solar initiative would enable the airport to migrate to clean energy while generating additional revenue.
“Plans for Joshua Nkomo International Airport are to have a two megawatt solar farm. We are on the electricity grid using Zesa 100 percent, but what we intend to do is have Zesa as backup and we will go 100 percent on solar.
“On average, the airport uses at most one megawatt, so the extra megawatt will be sold to the national grid to assist in the national electrification programme. At present, we are still sourcing and evaluating partners because it is going to be a private-public project (PPP).
“There are different models of PPP that we are still looking at. We want the one that benefits the country, the company and the investors as well, so we are still evaluating which is the best arrangement we can use to establish this project.”
Mr Mangombe said the solar programme would be rolled out to other major airports, including Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport.
“However, the solar project is going around all our airports. For Robert Mugabe International Airport, it will be a five megawatt plant and for Victoria Falls, it will also be a two megawatt plant because they also use one megawatt and we will sell the extra capacity to the national grid. It will also raise our non-electricity revenue to sustain our operations.”
Beyond energy projects, ACZ is also pursuing infrastructure upgrades at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport to enhance capacity and attract more international traffic.
Mr Mangombe said plans are underway to refurbish the terminal and extend the runway from 2,5 kilometres to 4,5 kilometres by 2030 to accommodate larger aircraft.
“At the moment, the capacity is still sufficient and it just needs a facelift and rehabilitation, which is on the plans. The runway is the one that we have immediate plans for because we are having several inquiries from international airlines; they want to bring larger equipment. At present, the airport cannot handle larger equipment, so we need to extend the runway by at least two kilometres.
“At present it’s 2,5 km, so with 4,5 kilometres when extended, it can handle any type of passenger aircraft that is available. The boosting of the capacity means the airport can handle long-haul flights straight from London, China and the Americas, so if we bridge that as an airport company, this is one of the fastest growing airports that we have and the traffic that will come directly,” he said.
The upgrading of aviation infrastructure is expected to play a pivotal role in attracting investment, increasing international connectivity and boosting Zimbabwe’s tourism sector.
Online Reporter