Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve and Leonard Ncube, Chronicle Reporters
ALL is set for the commencement of the Eighth Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Committee for the Africa Region, which kicks off in Victoria Falls on Tuesday with President Mnangagwa and First Lady, Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa, set to headline the meeting.
Zimbabwe expects to leverage the gathering to accelerate its target of achieving a 27 percent solar share of electricity in the national grid by 2030.
The three-day conference, has brought together energy ministers and delegates from more than 45 African countries, marking one of the largest high-level energy gatherings on the continent this year.
The meeting is being held under a theme focused on scaling up solar deployment, mobilising climate finance, and strengthening agricultural productivity through solarisation.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Victoria Falls International Airport on Monday, Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo welcomed delegates and underscored the importance of the meeting for Zimbabwe’s energy future.
“I take this opportunity to welcome my brother from India, but he represents the International Solar Association, which is an international organisation and I want to welcome the Minister, the Honourable Minister from Djibouti, who has come to attend this meeting, which is organised by the International Solar Association,” said Minister Moyo.
“As Zimbabwe, we feel honoured that you chose us to host these regular meetings that you hold here in Africa for the African region. We feel that holding this at this opportune time, when we are talking about energy and all sources of energy, is very good for us so that we can push our solar energy as part of our mix.”
Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe’s energy mix currently comprises thermal at 55 percent and hydro at 45 percent, with very little solar contribution.
“But we are happy that this meeting must give us an impetus to move our solar energy and other renewable to the desired level of being 27 percent of the total supply of electricity in this country by 2030. So, you are just going to give us a kick in our arm so that we can reach the objective,” he said.
Minister Moyo announced that the meeting will be officially opened by President Mnangagwa on Wednesday, with the First Lady also expected to participate physically in the closing ceremony.
“Although the President has pressing issues with the agricultural show, having a big show week, but both the President and the First Lady and a number of Ministers will probably come and attend with the first lady, this is going to take place,” said Minister Moyo.
He highlighted that Zimbabwe is pursuing multiple renewable energy avenues beyond solar, including waste-to-energy, geothermal, and wind.
“I think we are a leader in waste to energy and we are expecting this year, the plant is already being built to come up with 22 megawatts of waste to energy plant,” he said.
Minister Moyo also noted that the Government has introduced a statutory instrument encouraging ZESA to pay people cash for excess energy rather than in kind, incentivising households and corporates to become energy producers.
“We are not talking about transition in the sense of abandoning any source of energy. We are talking about our energy expansion, which must encompass things that are readily available, and solar is readily available in Zimbabwe and in Africa as a whole,” he said.
ISA Director General Mr Ashish Khanna, who was also present at the briefing, said the International Solar Alliance is a multilateral UN-style system and the first institution of the global south for the global south, headquartered in India with 128 member countries.
“It’s my honour to be here for the Regional Committee Meeting of International Solar Alliance being held in Zimbabwe. Honourable Minister, thank you for your warm hospitality. It’s also great that Zimbabwe will host more than 45 countries of Africa coming together,” said Mr Khanna.
He highlighted the urgency of Africa’s energy challenge, noting that while US$2 trillion was spent on clean energy last year, only two percent came to Africa, despite the continent possessing 60 percent of the world’s best solar radiation.
Mr Khanna announced that the meeting will release a flagship report called “Solarising Africa”, which focuses not on what needs to be done, but on how Africa can take leadership.
“Africa is now ready, not only for talking, but for actually going big on Africa,” he said.
Key outcomes expected from the meeting include the signing of the Africa Solar Facility with Africa50 and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, designed to allow local African private sector entrepreneurs to invest in decentralised solar projects. The ISA will also open a Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) in Zimbabwe as the 11th such centre on the continent.
“We believe Africa is ready for at least having 200 gigawatts of solar in the next five years. This is something Africa needs because no country in the history of humanity has grown without a stable and reliable energy supply,” said Mr Khanna.
He also announced that seven countries, including Zimbabwe, will sign the Zimbabwe Declaration prioritising solarisation of agriculture, targeting 1 million solar pumps for Africa.
“Food security requires solarisation of agriculture,” he said.
Ends CKD PN//…
