Zim to Decommission Small Thermal Power Stations
Plans to decommission small thermal power stations in Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo are being expedited.
No Immediate Solution to Loadshedding
Efforts are aimed at driving more investment towards renewable energy sources in line with the global shift from fossil fuels as part of strategies to limit harmful emissions to minimise the impact of climate change.
Energy Development Minister Edgar Moyo said:
When we talk about just transition, we are talking about our movement from where our energy mix is dominated by fossils, and when we migrate to renewable energy, that transition needs to be managed properly so that we exercise justice to those who will be affected.
So, we need to come up with strategies so that we mitigate that and so that those people get justice.
We need to retrain our people to move from thermal technology towards solar technology and that process is already happening and we think people are going to transition without any losses to employment and other benefits.
The decision to decommission and re-purpose small thermals is part of measures to trim energy costs as the old infrastructure at these facilities has become costly to maintain.
Recently, the small thermal stations have been failing to generate electricity.
Equally, global and regional financiers have been cutting down funding or diverting attention from fossil projects to renewable.
Zim to Decommission Small Thermal Power Stations
A few years ago, the Government secured US$310 million from India to upgrade the Bulawayo and Hwange Thermal Power Stations.
However, the Bulawayo re-powering project, which was meant to improve capacity to 100MW from an insignificant 30MW, could not take off.
Investment into renewables in the country was still very low although there is scope for higher potential.
So, we need more investment in renewables. Communities who are benefiting from coal like those towns built out of coal production need to be managed properly as we transition.
Zimbabwe recognises the importance of conserving the environment through combating unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and addressing climate change effects and wildlife conservation.
The world is facing the consequences of climate change with the most vulnerable in the developing world, who are least responsible for it, bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.
