Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
THE Government has called for increased private sector investment into energy production and distribution infrastructure to connect at least 400 000 households and businesses to the national electricity grid.
Coupled with increased economic activity and a construction boom, which has pushed demand for electricity, private investment has become key in helping meet demand.
In an interview during a consultative workshop for the formulation of the National Development Strategy 2 blueprint, Energy and Power Development permanent secretary Dr Gloria Magombo said the private sector should complement the Government.
“We are looking at an economy which is growing and an industry which is consistently demanding more energy every day. So one of the key issues from NDS1 is that the economy has been growing and energy demand has increased, that is, electricity and petroleum products. This includes demand for petrol and diesel,” said Dr Magombo.
“We need more investment in the generation and development of power infrastructure. We have a lot of new communities which have not been connected. We have over 400 000 homesteads, which need to be connected to the grid.”
The Government, she said, has developed a new national blueprint known as the National Energy Compact, looking at the development of new energy infrastructure and the role of the private sector.
Going into NDS2, she said, there was a need to upgrade the country’s electricity infrastructure.
“Upgrading of Hwange Units 1 to 6 is one of the projects we are taking into NDS2 after realising during NDS1 that old infrastructure was deteriorating,” she said.
The Government has hailed significant investment in the generation of power by domestic and industrial consumers.
“We have seen a lot of our productive sectors, including mining, setting up new power stations. We have 35MW by Zimplats, which President Mnangagwa recently commissioned. That is one of the major areas of growth under NDS1,” said Dr Magombo.
“We are happy that a lot of that capacity is coming from renewable energy sources. On the domestic side, we have seen investment in solar systems. Consumers are now more confident and embracing new energy systems.”
She said over 400 000 homesteads needed to be connected to the national electricity grid.
Online Reporter