Bongani Ndlovu
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE Minister of Energy and Power Development, July Moyo, has called for enhanced regional integration and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to tackle the challenges of expanding renewable energy across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Officially welcoming delegates to the second SADC Sustainable Energy Week in Victoria Falls on Monday, Minister Moyo emphasised that collective action is crucial to addressing the region’s energy security concerns and driving economic growth.
“As a region we are grappling with the issue of renewable energy expansion and as a country, we strongly believe in regional integration and the role that both the public and the private sector play in all of it,” said Minister Moyo.
Minister Moyo called on delegates to network and foster synergies among themselves throughout the week-long conference.
He encouraged delegates to utilise the meeting rooms provided for bilateral engagements.
“You are therefore encouraged to network as much as possible through bilateral meetings in the meeting rooms provided. We will not be having closed-door sessions, but instead, we will promote synergies amongst all attendees this year,” he said.
The conference, being held under the theme: Driving Regional Economic Growth through Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency, serves as a high-level platform to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.
Minister Moyo said the event features plenary sessions, bilateral meetings and field visits designed to catalyse regional economic growth through energy initiatives.
During the ministerial segment, Zimbabwe will present its Energy Compact alongside other ministers from the region.
Minister Moyo described the compact as the nation’s blueprint in the energy sector, which will help achieve the national Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
He also acknowledged the continued importance of conventional power sources within the regional energy mix.
“Our actions and plans as a region must recognise these energy sources as well as energy efficiency efforts,” he said, adding that efficient energy use across industry and mining is essential to maximise the benefit from available resources.
The SADC Sustainable Energy Week, hosted by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Energy and Power Development in partnership with the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), runs throughout this week.
As part of the proceedings, Zimbabwe will officially pass the hosting baton to Eswatini, represented by Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, His Royal Highness Prince Lonkhokhela Dlamini.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit sustainable energy sites in Victoria Falls, including community biogas digesters and solar thermal technologies, before the conference concludes on Friday.
Online Reporter