KWEKWE – An independent power producer with plans to build a 100-megawatt solar plant in Kwekwe completed the first phase of the project on Friday with the commissioning of a 10MW facility.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa presided over the commissioning of the New Glovers Solar power plant, built on a 2,400-hectare piece of land with 18,600 installed panels, 31 inverters with remotely-monitored smart transmitters, and 6km of transmission lines connecting it to the decommissioned Munyati Power Station, where it feeds power directly into the national grid.

The project was funded 51 percent by the Public Service Commission’s pension fund.

Phase One has a generation capacity of 10 megawatts, with plans to scale to more than 100MW at full capacity, and is expected to generate 20 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. Mnangagwa laid the foundation stone for the expansion project during the event and pledged government support.

On Friday, the Zimbabwe Power Company said independent power producers generated 66MW of the total 1,449MW on the grid. The energy ministry says Zimbabwe needs at least 1,800MW to meet demand.

Mnangagwa said the plant is among the first commissioned under the government’s Project Support Agreement framework, a model designed to attract private investment into infrastructure by guaranteeing investor security and viable returns. Under the arrangement, investors are assured of cost-reflective tariffs, guaranteed uptake of electricity generated, and offshore repatriation of dividends.

“This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to diversify the national energy mix and build resilience against climate change and associated energy challenges,” Mnangagwa said.

He added that Zimbabwe’s vast solar potential made renewable energy a practical and sustainable solution to the country’s electricity challenges.

“Our country is endowed with abundant solar radiation. The sun is our silent partner,” he said.

Mnangagwa also warned against corruption and vandalism. “Anyone who steals cables, vandalises infrastructure, or demands bribes from investors is an enemy of development. A solar panel stolen today means a job lost tomorrow.”