Zimbabwe calls for energy self-sufficiency

Published: 23 June 2018
Zimbabwe has called for cooperation in the generation of energy and power to ensure the region is self-sufficient and reduces dependency on the outside world.

Energy and Power Development Minister Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo made the call in an interview at the 20th Africa Energy Forum in Mauritius, where he was courting foreign investors to invest in power projects to boost electricity generation in the country.

"Co-operation in the power sector is vital for the entire continent and I think the African Union is leading in terms of its Agenda 2063," he said.

"Energy plays a central part. There was a time when we thought the Inga Dam project in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be the answer to the entire continent's power supply problems, but because of instability in that particular country, which we hope will end soon, we have not been able to undertake that project.

"We believe that regional power pools must put their hands together so that we minimise dependency on the outside world."

Ambassador Khaya Moyo expressed concern that energy forums were being held in developed countries instead of Africa, which would allow African countries an opportunity to market investment opportunities in their power sector to potential investors.

"I am told this is the first time that this meeting called the Africa Energy Forum has been held in Africa and my argument was that surely this is the 20th anniversary and the next one will be in Portugal," he said.

"So, where is Africa there? I would have expected this forum to take place in countries where the challenge is greatest but we are going to countries and cities which are well developed. We want the continent to see that a lot of us are still without power."

Ambassador Khaya Moyo urged relevant authorities to ensure there are prepaid meters in urban centres to curb the problem of huge debts owed to utilities. He encouraged investors that supply the meters to invest in manufacturing plants in Africa to create employment. Ambassador Khaya Moyo said Zimbabwe was not self-sufficient in terms of power.

"We import about 300 megawatts from Eskom in South Africa, about 50 megawatts from Mozambique and we have not just folded our arms," he said.

"We shall proceed and woo investors to increase power generation to about 300MW at the Kariba South. We are looking forward to the ground breaking of Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project next month, which will give us another 600MW.

"Investors are welcome to move into all other areas of energy including solar, wind including IPP(Independent Power Producers) and we have a number of dams, which they can also be used to generate power. The biggest will be the Batoka Hydro.

"We are going for it together with Zambia and this will give us about 2 400MW that is 1 200MW apiece, and we think by the end of the day we will be self-sufficient in power generation."

Ambassador Khaya Moyo bemoaned the 20 years of isolation due to sanctions during which no financial assistance was received.

"The next few years will see us going back to where we were some few years just after independence," he said.

"The most important thing is that a number of industries are opening now, we are seeing signs of that and we shall obviously need more and more power and even to export if necessary, but because we are part of the Southern African Power Pool we think that is a situation that gives us comfort because we can always share the challenges facing this particular sector in the industry," he said.

Ambassador Khaya Moyo assured investors that Zimbabwe was open for business in the energy and power sector, and also other sectors.

"My focus was that Zimbabwe is open for business and as my President always says, this is the opportunity and most of the investors are welcome to invest in our country," he said.

"With regards to the new dispensation, I have listened to a number of them (investors), they have so much to offer in the field of energy and power development.

"I feel I have benefited so much from the forum and I believe I have convinced quite a number of investors to come and experience the new dispensation. I am saying this because some of them had negative perceptions because of the past but things have changed."

Ambassador Khaya Moyo assured the participants that Zimbabwe was a peaceful and united country, which was going to hold peaceful, free, fair and credible harmonised elections.
- the herald
Tags: Energy, KhayaMoyo,

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