The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has licensed the 50 megawatts solar photovoltaic power plant at Westgate Suburbs in Bulawayo.
The project is being implemented by Parvalue Energy (Private) Limited who for 25 years have been authorised to supply electricity to any transmission, distribution or supply licensee who purchases electricity for resale and, with the approval of the ZERA, to any one or more consumers. Granting the 25-year-long license, ZERA said:
The generation licence is hereby granted to Parvalue Energy (Private) Limited . . . to own, operate and maintain the 50MW solar photovoltaic power plant called Donnington West Power plant at stand 3039, Donnington West, Westgate Suburb in Bulawayo,” said Zera.
The development comes when Zimbabwe is facing a huge power deficit which the local power utility, ZESA attributes to dwindling water levels at Kariba dam and ageing equipment at Hwange Power Station.
The power crisis is said to be one of the factors adversely affecting production in the country with inflation also closely associated with the crisis.
Alternatives such as the use of generators have proved to be unsustainable in both short term and long term periods since fuel is both expensive and scarce.
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