Online Reporter
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed clothing retailer, Edgars Stores Limited, plans to invest in solar power systems to provide backup to improve system uptime and customer experience in-store.
The strategic move is expected to provide a reliable and efficient power supply, minimising disruptions and ensuring seamless operations.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing load-shedding across the country to manage the gap between demand and supply.
To mitigate the negative impact of the power cuts, Zimbabwean companies have resorted to the more expensive alternatives, such as generators, which are run for several hours a day to avoid disruption to operations.
This situation highlights the strain on the national power grid and the need for businesses to adopt affordable alternative power solutions to ensure continuity and minimise disruptions.
Prolonged load-shedding schedules have had significant negative implications for businesses, affecting productivity, costs, and overall economic activity.
Edgar’s adoption of solar power also demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices and reducing its environmental footprint. During the 2024 financial year, Edgars’ energy consumption patterns were dominated by significant reliance on non-renewable sources, incurring significant expenditure on keeping systems up and running.
Specifically, the company used 715,474 kilowatt hours (kWh) of non-renewable electricity, 212,456 kWh of renewable electricity.
The company’s fuel consumption included 24 907 litres of diesel and 19 415 litres of petrol, and 305 000 kilogrammes of coal.
This substantial energy usage highlights the potential benefits of investing in alternative power sources, such as solar energy, to reduce costs and environmental impact.
“The business will make further investments in backup solar power to improve system uptime and customer experiences in store and contain generator and grid electricity costs in light of projected reduced electricity availability in the outlook period.
“Plans are underway to engage partners to invest in solar energy, taking advantage of the factory’s expansive roof,” said Edgars Stores Limited Chairman Mr Thembinkosi Sibanda in the firm’s 2024 annual report.
This development comes as the company has made significant investments in alternative power sources, such as generators, aimed at mitigating the challenges posed by the unreliable and inadequate national power grid.
Edgar’s diversification of energy mix seeks to ensure a stable and consistent power supply, thereby minimising downtime and optimising operational efficiency.
This investment is expected to bring long-term benefits to both the business and its customers.
