Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) has endorsed Zimbabwe’s energy sector investment roadmap to attract more projects to mitigate the ever-rising demand for power.
Zimbabwe, like any other regional economy, has not been spared from the ever-rising demand for power by industry and commerce.
The move has seen government and the private sector focus on mobilising resources towards refurbishing power stations, attracting new projects and sourcing long-term financing.
With the commissioning of the Hwange 7 and 8 generation units setting the pace for Zimbabwe’s commitment to ease energy supply gaps, regional economies have also been charmed by such developments.
Presenting an update regarding efforts by the regional member power utilities to mitigate energy deficits, SAPP Executive Director Engineer Stephen Dihwa revealed Zimbabwe is among the leading pack of nations committing to increased energy supplies.
“The roadmap demonstrates the willingness of the Zimbabwe Government to tap into those strategic components of development by accelerating power projects given the thrust taken by SAPP of ensuring that nations submit credible power development plans, Zimbabwe is among those nations whose roadmap has also impressed the power pool institution, we believe that more resource mobilisation will anchor energy projects,” he said.
The SAPP Executive Director noted strides by Zimbabwe in terms of energy investments critical in sustaining energy requirements by other regional economies.
“The appetite for power projects is there in Zimbabwe and this is what we are advocating for given the nature of the demand for energy which is evenly going to increase so against such a backdrop SAPP member states are entitled not to lag but to focus on those long term goals that will further accelerate the region in terms of power self-sufficiency,” he added.
The SAAP was created in 1995 to coordinate the provision of reliable and economical electricity supply and facilitate electricity trading among its members.
