peterJean Sigauke, Sunday News Reporter
A SOUTH African-based company has reached an agreement with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for the establishment of a 100-megawatt solar power plant in Gwanda.
Matshela Energy Limited has set its sight on alleviating load shedding woes that have been affecting Gwanda as part of its mandate to help end power cuts in the mining town.
The company is set to construct, own and maintain the 100Mw solar power plant and the project will include a battery storage facility of 40MW at Gwanda Timber farm.
The project is expected to support households in Gwanda by covering the load shedding gap as it is expected to produce 220 Gigawatts (GWH) of electricity per year.
“Our main aim is to cover up energy poverty in Gwanda and the surrounding areas.
Several households will be covered which are about 880 000 households per annum which is equivalent to the consumption of 250KWh per month,” said Mr Matshela Koko, the energy’s company’s managing director.
He added that the company will help provide employment for Gwanda residents as 1 000 job opportunities are set to be created at the peak of construction.
derick.khumalo