Zimbabwe Looks To IPPs & Rural Minigrids To Plug Electricity Generation Shortages & Increase Access To Electricity - CleanTechnica

The Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Authority (ZERA) released its 2024 annual report highlighting ongoing challenges and efforts in the country’s electricity sector. Zimbabwe continues to face a significant supply-demand gap, with an average available capacity of 1,300 MW against a demand of 1,700 MW. Key issues include low water levels at the Kariba hydroelectric plant, which forced generation cuts to about 300 MW for most of the year, and frequent breakdowns at aging coal-fired units at Hwange Power Station. Although two new 300 MW coal units (Hwange units 7 & 8) were commissioned at a cost of US$1.5 billion, electricity rationing persists, underscoring the urgent need to boost generation capacity. To address these shortages and increase access to electricity, ZERA is actively promoting the involvement of independent power producers (IPPs) and the development of rural minigrids. In 2024, ZERA issued 20 new electricity licenses, including