MUTARE– Government should leverage on vast national renewable energy potential to address crippling power challenges, a regional environmental organization has said.
Zimbabwe has been facing crippling electricity load-shedding lasting over 16 hours a day.
Wellington Madumira, Lobby and Advocacy Officer for ZERO Regional Environment Organization said government can attract investment by coming up with a comprehensive renewable energy legal framework.
Madumira called on the government to operationalize dormant policies which can unlock investment into the renewable energy and help Zimbabwe achieve its target of decreased carbon emissions.
“We need a comprehensive legal framework that will support investment into renewable energy, we are hoping that the coming of a Renewable Energy policy will improve investment in the sector.
“In Zimbabwe, we have developed the Action Agenda Investment Prospectus, that document is idle, it is not a working document, but in other countries they have adopted Energy Policies, Renewable Energy Policies and such policies will attract investment,” he said.
“In the National Determined Contributions (NDCs) they talk about 33% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030, which we believe if investors come into the renewable energy sector, that target can be reached.”
Madumira said there is great potential to generate hydro-electricity in Manicaland province, while other provinces also have capacity to produce renewable energy given right incentives.
He said provision of clean, sustainable and renewable energy to rural communities was an imperative for the government to fulfill for the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Zimbabwe has vast renewable energy resources like solar, wind, hydro and biomass that to date have largely gone unexploited. The majority of the people especially in rural areas have no access to basic energy services, and the energy supply-demand gap is continuing to widen.
“In addition increased pressure on forest resources has been a result of limited access to energy. The challenge lies in the fact that access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is critical to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are realised.
“From research, it shows that Manicaland province has the capacity to generate its own electricity which is an opportunity for investors to come on board to make sure there is energy access in Manicaland.
“Through promotion of hydro energy, use of water to generate electricity. We have the likes of Chipendeke, Himalaya, the Nyamingura, all these projects can assist the province to have access to electricity.
“There are other sources and dams that are yet to be utilized which can also assist in upscaling production of current hydro energy that is being generated, so investors can also come on board to ensure that water sources are used to produce clean energy,” said Madumira.
