Power Giants, GNEE China partnership poised to ensure power sufficiency
BUSINESS REPORTER
Power Giants Private Limited and GNEE China Corporation’s multi-billion dollar solar partnership is expected to eliminate Zimbabwe’s chronic power outages following the inking of a historic deal last Friday.
The signing ceremony, which took place in Harare, if implemented will be a turning point in achieving the country’s energy self-sufficiency.
Dr Edzai Kachirekwa, the Power Giants Africa CEO, said the addition of 4000MW to the national grid by 2028 will cure the country’s perennial power crisis and position the country as a net exporter of electricity.
“This partnership will provide a solution to the power problems in the country,” Dr Kachirekwa said.
“We will have plants in all provinces, rendering Hwange and Kariba power stations redundant for emergency use only.”
“The initial rollout will target rural areas and industries, providing smart energy solutions for operations,” he added.
Dr Kachirekwa noted that the latest development will contribute to investments in various areas such as mining, steel production and lithium extraction while also creating jobs.
“The benefits will be very immense as we are going to ensure job creation among the youths and soft skills for the elderly as well as technological advantages as China is one of the most advanced technological nations in the world.”
Wan Ke, the chief executive officer of GNEE, expressed his commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s electricity development, prioritising solar power generation projects to address the power shortages.
“We will apply China’s most advanced solar products and technologies to ensure the project meets design requirements and owner expectations,” Wan Ke assured.
The project is expected to significantly relieve Zimbabwe’s power crisis which has plagued the country for years.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, economist Dr Tendesai Mushamba said, “The amalgamation of the two power giants, Power Giant Private Limited and GNEE is going to reduce deforestation in rural areas where people use firewood as a major energy resource.
“The coming in of solar energy is going to promote and perpetuate smart energy and economic growth in the country.”
Dr Mushamba added: “Local firms and citizens are experiencing power shortages hence we decided to collaborate with a power giant who specialises in grid transmission to deal with the power shortages. Chinese experts have state-of-the-art and the fastest methods that can be used to build and start generating electricity.
“We came up with this partnership with GNEE, which has the latest technology. It has got the capacity as it is the manufacturer of solar equipment, and transformers. Everything that you can think of in terms of electricity transmission, it manufactures that.
“Partnering such a company simply means we are going to improve our technologies and this will help us eliminate loadshedding in the country. We will modernise our national grids and eliminate issues to do with carbon within our ecosystems.”
“We will benefit more in terms of industrialisation as the country will have efficient energy systems to grow the national economy.”
With GNEE’s expertise and Power Giants’ local knowledge, the partnership is poised to significantly impact the country’s power landscape.
The programme is expected to be rolled out before the onset of the rainy season this year.