GOVERNMENT has approached China seeking investments into the energy sector amid a crippling power crisis.
Energy and Power Development minister Edgar Moyo yesterday visited Shanghai accompanied by Zesa Holdings executive chairperson, Sydney Gata, and officials from the ministry and the power utility.
Gata bemoaned the power outages in the country as he pleaded for investment into the sector to alleviate the electricity shortfall.“We have very acute capacity shortages in our electricity supply sector in the country owing to the unprecedented growth in the economy following years of sanctions and various challenges,” Gata said.
“Our economy is growing especially in the mining, agriculture, and industrial smelting sectors which are very energy intensive.”He said Zesa Holdings was expecting new investments to ensure the country produces 3 000 megawatts by 2025 with investment in solar energy being the most preferable.“We have limitless solar resources in the country and our network is deployed way into the land mass. We are one of the best candidates for solar investment as we have land, sun and infrastructure,” Gata said.
Former Counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe, Zhao Baogang, said Zimbabwe offered vast opportunities in the energy sector.“We have a long-standing relationship with Zimbabwe and we want to find ways to partner. We have a very strong energy industry ranging from thermal, renewable and nuclear energy,” Baogang said.
“Zimbabwe is one of our most important partners as we have a very good foundation for co-operation.”One of China’s biggest steam turbine suppliers and manufacturers Shandong Dingneng said that country had long-term plans to invest in Zimbabwe’s energy sector.
“Zimbabwe is a very important nation in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) with abundant resources and the growing economy has been increasing electricity demand,” Liu Lining, the company’s chairperson said.
“We are keen to initiate co-operation with Zimbabwe and contribute to industrial development by introducing China’s capabilities.“We also plan to deploy energy storage solutions at our disposal. Our proposed investment areas will be to explore the possibility of the construction of solar plants, wind power plants and a clean coal power plant in Matabeleland North.”
Moyo said Zimbabwe was open for business, collaboration, technology transfer and investment.“Zimbabwe is at the epicentre of Sadc and the energy sector and our government has put in place the necessary policies like the National Development Strategy 1 which prioritises energy,” the Energy minister said.
Source Newsday
