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The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) Board of Directors has approved the proposed 5 MW Gutu Solar Power Generation Plant, marking a significant step forward in the country’s renewable energy development efforts.
The project initially began in 2018 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Gutu Rural District Council (GRDC) and IDBZ. To facilitate the project’s development, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Chatsworth Energy (Private) Limited, was established in July 2020. A Framework Agreement (FMA) for constructing a 20 MW solar plant in Chatsworth was concluded in December 2020. However, due to the 28-kilometer distance between the original site and the nearest substation, the plant’s location was moved closer, just 1 kilometer from the ZETDC 33/11kV Substation. Following a Grid Impact Assessment Study conducted by Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) in June 2021, it was determined that the local infrastructure could safely support a maximum capacity of 5 MW, leading to the plant’s downsizing.
Under the Framework Agreement, IDBZ is responsible for financing the project’s preparation and development, while GRDC provides the leased land. The land, currently zoned as a resettlement area and owned by the state, was secured through a 25-year lease approved by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development on October 6, 2023. GRDC has already started preparations, including land clearing, road construction, and security fencing around the project site.
The project preparation phase has been supported by funding from the French Development Agency (AFD), secured through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment Promotion. This funding is being used to co-finance detailed feasibility and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies. SOWITEC Kenya Limited, in partnership with MAZEDECK Ventures (Pvt) Limited of Zimbabwe, was awarded the contract for these studies in July 2022 following an open tender.
The next phase involves procuring an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor to implement the project, with construction expected to take approximately 12 months. This solar power plant will contribute to Zimbabwe’s energy mix and enhance the country’s efforts toward sustainable energy solutions. |
