Staff writer
The Central Africa Building Society Limited (CABS) has applied to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to construct, own, operate and maintain a 0.5 MW solar photovoltaic plant at number 3 Northend Close, Northridge Park, Borrowdale, Harare.
The company intends to use the generated power for its own consumption and connect it to the grid through the Borrowdale 33/11 kV substation.
“The licence application by Central Africa Building Society Limited was done in terms of the provisions of Sections 42 and 46 of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19).
“Any person desiring to make representations on this application for a generation licence as advertised may, within 14 days from the last day of this publication, which expires on 16th May 2025, lodge a written representation with ZERA, whose offices are at 45 Samora Machel Avenue, 14th Floor Century Towers, Harare,” reads part of the ZERA notice.
This comes as a growing number of Zimbabwean firms are turning to on-site power generation as a means to mitigate power costs, improve supply reliability and potentially create new revenue streams.
Latest data from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) reveals more than 29 projects are underway, promising to add a substantial 1 688 megawatts (MW) to the country’s energy mix.
A notable trend in the private ventures is the strong focus on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.
With 25 projects in the pipeline, solar power accounts for a significant 403 MW of the capacity, highlighting the growing appeal and viability of solar energy for businesses seeking sustainable power solutions.
While solar leads in the number of projects, coal-fired power represents the largest share in terms of capacity. According to ZERA, three thermal projects are set to contribute a significant 1,265 MW.
This shows that while renewable energy is gaining traction, traditional sources remain a key component of private power generation plans, likely driven by the energy demands of specific industries.
Other sources in the mix include a single gas-powered project with a capacity of 20 MW. Notably, there are no current projects for bagasse, biomass, waste to energy, hydro, concentrated solar power, or hybrid (solar or diesel) for companies establishing plants for their own use.
An analysis of recent data highlights key players and the intended capacity they are bringing to the grid.
CABS parent company Old Mutual Zimbabwe has made several investments that have gone into renewable energy, infrastructure value chains in agriculture, mining and tourism, among others.
The group last year launched the US$100 million renewable energy fund in partnership with the government, the United Nations and other private sector players.
