Solar Power Company targets to connect 30megawatts to national grid by 2016

Nearly 80% of Zimbabwe's rural households do not have access to electricity, and even those connected to the grid face frequent outages.

In 2013 Zimbabwean entrepreneur Simbarashe Mhuriro (30) partnered with a Swiss-German renewable energy company to develop grid-connected solar plants. Reports reveal that their joint venture, Oursun Energy Zimbabwe, is set to connect projects with a total capacity of up to 30MW to the national grid by January 2016.

Mhuriro said "This is a joint venture between my investment vehicle Oxygen Africa and The Meeco Group. When I started Oxygen Africa we initially focused on investment advisory services and natural resources (minerals). Through the investment arm we encountered Meeco.

"I've always had an interest in solar but did not dabble in it on the scale presented by Meeco. Our two companies decided to partner and establish Oursun to develop grid-connected solar plants in Zimbabwe. Towards the end of 2014 we raised €6.4m (about US$7m) from Meeco to begin development of two 5MW grid-connected plants."

He said so far they have secured the sites and agreements with local contractors and suppliers, and development partners have been signed.

"We have engaged the Zimbabwe Energy Regularity Authority and are waiting for the Independent Power Producers' licences to be approved and issued," he said.

"The aim is to have the construction commence this month and be connected by June. Our goal is to connect up to 30MW worth of projects to the national grid by January 2016."

Solar Power Company targets to connect 30megawatts to national grid by 2016