adminGodfrey Gavure Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT will by year end complete the development of an Independent Power Producers’ policy that will help to establish market-oriented measures and regulatory instruments for private players’ participation in the energy sector.
In a speech read on his behalf at the IPPs Indaba, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development Mr Partson Mbiriri said the policy initiatives are aimed at improving the power supply situation and enhance security of supply of electricity in the country.
There are 22 licensed IPP projects out of which eight are operational and 14 are not yet operational due to high tariffs and lack of funds to develop their projects.
“Currently, we have suppressed demand for power due to the subdued economic environment,” he said.
“Capacity utilisation in industry sits at about 36 percent and it is expected that when performance of the economy improves, a lot of power would be required to power industry,” said Mr Mbiriri.
He said IPPs are the solution to the power supply problems and it is Government’s desire to see IPP projects coming up to complement power supplies from Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company.
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