Almot Maqolo
CHINESE-backed solar and waste-to-energy projects will add over 1 000MW of power capacity in Zimbabwe, easing shortages, an official said.
This comes as the country is also expanding its renewable energy sector.
Speaking at the Chinese National Day Reception in Harare, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding said the projects were among a range of Chinese-supported investments helping Zimbabwe expand its industrial and energy capacity.
“A number of solar power projects and new waste-to-energy initiatives will soon add more than 1 000 megawatts of installed power capacity, further easing Zimbabwe’s power shortages,” he said.
Zhou said the Chinese-funded Hwange Power Station Units 7 and 8 and Kariba South Hydropower Station already supply more than half of Zimbabwe’s electricity.
He added that new projects would further strengthen the country’s power-generation capacity.
He said the developments formed part of China’s broader economic engagement with Zimbabwe, which includes investments in mining, manufacturing, infrastructure and energy. Acting Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Frederick Shava said Chinese investment was already playing a significant role in Zimbabwe’s industrial development, particularly in projects focused on mineral beneficiation and value addition.
“Under the banner of ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’, we leverage economic diplomacy to attract quality investment, drive local production, and build industrial resilience. In this regard, Chinese investments have played a transformative role in our economy,” he said.
Shava cited the Dinson Iron and Steel Company plant at Manhize as a flagship investment, describing it as one of Africa’s largest steel plants, adding that it had positioned Zimbabwe for greater industrial development. He said Zimbabwe was prioritising mineral value addition and beneficiation under its National Development Strategy to create jobs and broaden the country’s economic base.
Zhou also highlighted Chinese investments in the lithium sector, saying Huayou’s Prospect Lithium project had delivered what he described as Africa’s first batch of lithium sulphate products.
He said Chinese investment would continue to support Zimbabwe’s industrial capacity and local value addition under the government’s “Open for Business” policy, guided by market-based and commercial principles.
The energy projects come as Zimbabwe seeks to expand domestic electricity generation and reduce power shortages in support of industrialisation and economic growth. Hydropower continues to dominate Zimbabwe’s renewable energy mix, accounting for nearly 84 percent of total renewable capacity.