Online Reporter
Zimbabwe is now enjoying the benefits of increased power generation which has resulted in reduced electricity imports. According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), the country’s electricity import bill dropped by 44 percent to US$ 117 million in 2025 from US$ 208,7 million in 2024 resulting in foreign currency savings of about US$91,7 million.
This was as a result of increased power generation following the commissioning of Hwange Thermal Power Station’s units 7 and 8 in 2023. Zimbabwe is now generating 1 589MW and the bulk of this is from Hwange which is contributing 990MW.
The country which is also generating electricity from Kariba Hydro Power Station, has witnessed increased power generation by Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Two weeks ago, President Mnangagwa commissioned the New Glovers 10MW Solar Power Plant in Munyati, Kwekwe. The plant which is already feeding electricity into the national grid, has 18 000 solar panels, more than 30 inverters and two smart transformers.
The target is to increase electricity generated by the plant to 100MW. New Glovers Solar has joined the league of IPPs such as Blanket Mine in Gwanda, Centragrid in Nyabira, Mashonaland West, Solgas Energy at Cross Mabale in Matabeleland North Province and Zimplats also in Mashonaland West that are boosting the country’s power generation.
Generation of solar energy is in line with the Government’s quest to produce clean energy as it takes measures to meet the global climate-change adaptation and mitigation commitments. Many private companies have been issued licences to produce solar energy across the country and it is our fervent hope that the companies are working on the projects.
Big companies such as Mimosa Mine in Zvishavane and Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) in Bulawayo have announced that work on their plants is already underway. Zimbabwe like the rest of the Sadc region is experiencing subdued energy generation hence the need for more companies to invest in the generation of solar energy.
Government has implored more companies to invest in the energy sector so that the country is not just guaranteed adequate electricity but produces even surplus for export.
Energy is key to the achievement of vision 2030 and we want to commend companies that have already heeded the Government’s call to invest in the energy sector and urge others that are yet to come on board to do so.
Zimbabwe like the rest of Africa has abundant sunshine throughout the year and companies should take advantage of this God-given resource to invest in renewable energy. Government in a bid to fast-track IPPs projects, has provided Treasury guarantees to unlock nearly US$1 billion worth of private power investments.
