A local consortium, Triangle Solar System (TSS), is set to build a 90MW solar plant in Chiredzi at a cost of nearly US$90 million after the project was approved by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
TSS, led by businessman Mr Paradzai Chakona, was granted a generation licence on May 22 this year and will invest US$88,1 million to develop and construct a 90MW solar electricity generation plant, about 12km west of Triangle.
The project would probably be one of the largest single investment by a local company in the province since independence, which will create over 300 jobs, said Mr Chakona, who is also a Member of Parliament for Zaka Central constituency.
Zimbabwe is currently facing a shortage of electricity due to generation shortfalls and imports a significant amount of power mainly from neighbouring countries — Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.
Power imports now constitute a significant foreign currency outflow and have put a strain on the foreign currency situation.
“It is a fact that ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) is importing power from neighbouring countries or regionally,” said Mr Chakona.
“The project when commissioned, will significantly reduce the power import bill.
It will create employment and empower the local community.
“If Zimbabwe continues to import power from neighbouring countries, it will continue to export jobs to those countries.
