Zimbabwe wants more individuals, companies, IPPs and even schools to sell the excess power they generate via net metering
A solar generation facility is shown in Nyabira, Zimbabwe. Picture: PHILIMON BULAWAYO/REUTERS
The grid-tied inverter would cost him at least $2,000, a significant outlay on top of the approximately $5,000 the commercial farmer spent on his solar power system in 2019. However, Sosten Ziuku, director of renewable energy in the ministry of energy and power development, acknowledged the high equipment costs for net metering users — especially individuals rather than IPPs that tend to operate on a larger scale.
“The primary challenge is generation and Zimbabwe needs to create urgently 2,000MW of fresh power,” he added.Under the country’s net metering regulations — first laid out in 2018 — domestic users were to receive an electricity credit of 0.9 kilowatt-hour for each kWh of power they exported to the national grid.Some solar sector players have criticised both slow progress in expanding net metering and how the system functions.
In December, Zimbabwe launched a $30m renewable energy fund as part of a UN Sustainable Development Goals initiative. The government said it would provide support to regular small and medium-sized firms for renewable projects. Biti has been lobbying the government to remove all import taxes on equipment or components used for renewable energy, including the 15% VAT rate.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Zimbabwe: Greening the City Gets Community Treatment in ZimbabweIt's a typical story in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city. With the failure to provide services such as refuse collection by the local municipality, township residents dump garbage wherever they fancy, and with time, dumpsites become "official."
Read more »
Zimbabwe looks to public to provide solar power amid energy crisisAs lingering droughts hit southern Africa's hydropower dams, Zimbabwe faces growing electricity shortages - but connecting individuals and businesses that have installed private solar panels to the national grid could help fill some of the gap.
Read more »
Violent Attacks On Zimbabwe Opposition Supporters CondemnedHuman rights groups have expressed concern over escalating cases of politically-motivated violence against villagers aligned to opposition parties ahead of the 2023 general elections. Responding to a viral social media video showing brutal attacks against supporters of the political opposition party Citizens' Coalition for Change, Flavia Mwangovya, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa, said: "This callous, politically motivated attack against older people who had simply attended a gathering for a political opposition party is outrageous. Such cruel acts of violence, which have repeatedly marred Zimbabwe's political landscape in the past, gravely threaten the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly". The video, which appears to have been filmed by one of the assailants, shows a group of apparent supporters of the country's ruling ZANU-PF party kicking and beating with sticks older people in in Murehwa North, a rural district of Marondera East. The ruling party has distanced itself from the individuals in the political violence Zimbabwe has a long history of violence in the run-up to elections, with opposition parties repeatedly accusing ZANU-PF of being behind the attacks. Amnesty has previously documented similar election-related human rights violations in the country. During the 2008 elections, more than 200 people were killed during and after the election amid violence against opposition supporters.
Read more »
Zimbabwe health workers could face jail for striking under new lawZimbabwe on Tuesday signed a bill into law that outlawed organised protests by healthcare workers who could now face a fine or an imprisonment of up to six months.
Read more »
Zimbabwe: Amnesty International Blames Zim Authorities for Inciting ViolenceRights watchdog, Amnesty International, has warned Zimbabwean authorities against the issuance of inflammatory statements inciting political violence amid fears of a bloodbath ahead of harmonised elections this year.
Read more »
Zimbabwe: Some Zimbabweans Fear Violence Will Taint Upcoming ElectionsRights groups say a brutal attack on Zimbabwe opposition supporters was clearly intended to harass and intimidate them ahead of elections expected later this year.
Read more »