By A Correspondent- Government is in the process of formulating a renewable energy policy which is set to be published soon, a senior government official has revealed.

Deputy Energy and Power Development minister Magna Mudyiwa told parliament that government would avail land to investors interested in setting up solar energy plants in the country.

Said the deputy minister:

“….Solar energy falls under renewable energy and we have got a policy on renewable energy which will be published very soon.  We are encouraging as many people and investors as possible who want to invest energy so that we can add on to our grid wherever possible, particularly now that we are experiencing this shortage of electricity during the day.  

We have got plenty of sunshine in Zimbabwe and investing in solar energy will help us as a country to alleviate the shortages that we are experiencing on solar energy. 

What happens is that we have so many investors, some who are foreign and some within the country.  As long as they have their funds to set up the solar plants, we will assist them to get the land if they do not have the land where they want to set up the solar plant system.  

We will also try as much as possible to expedite the process where they are supposed to go to ZERA for licencing and they are also supposed to hold discussions with ZETDC for the tariffs.

Once that is agreed and everything is above board; we also have the EMA to make sure that the environmental impact assessment is done. Then if ZETDC can add on to that grid they have to make that assessment whether it is possible to add their electricity on to the grid and once that is done, we welcome such investors.  

So, our policy is that we are encouraging the investment in solar as much as possible. “