Page 13 - AfrElec Week 34 2022
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AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
Skypower Global in talks on
500MW of solar in Zimbabwe
ZIMBABWE ZIMBABWE’S cabinet has approved a frame- 50MW.
work agreement between the government and A number of companies such as London-
Toronto-headquartered solar energy developer, and New York-listed Caledonia Mining Corpo-
Skypower Global (Skypower), state-owned daily ration, majority shareholder in the major local
The Herald reports. gold mine Blanket, and cement maker Pretoria
The agreement involves a proposed phased Portland Cement, are planning to develop theirs.
building of a 500MW solar park in the southern The country needs more capacity as it gen-
African nation, according to Information Min- erates about 1,200MW yet demand is around
ister Monica Mutsvangwa. 1,800MW. It fills the gap through imports from
The cabinet considered and approved the Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.
framework agreement between Zimbabwe and Skypower is one of the world’s largest and
Skypower Global of the United Arab Emirates most successful independent power produc-
as presented by Zhemu Soda, Minister of Energy ers that developed, financed, built, owns and
and Power Development, she said, adding “In operates solar stations across the globe totalling
support of the initiative to promote investments, 25,000MW. Some of these stations are in bilateral
government seeks to conclude a framework with agreements and contract awards to be built in the
Skypower Global.” Middle East, Africa, and South East and Central
Zimbabwe has substantial solar energy Asia over the coming years, The Herald notes.
potential which is largely untapped. The larg- It has over 30 power purchase agreements
est investment so far is by local company Sol- representing billions of dollars worth of long-
gas Energy, which started feeding 5MW into term renewable energy sales to leading utilities
the national grid in March. When complete, and governments around the world.
the facility in western Zimbabwe will produce
Ghana opens 13MW of solar
GHANA GHANA’S president on August 23 commis- solutions, and the decarbonisation of oil produc-
sioned 13MW solar power plant valued at tion, amongst others.
£22.8mn at Kaleo in the Nadowli District of the With the exception of the Bui HydroPower
Upper West Region, Ghana Today reports. plant, almost all of Ghana’s power generation
The project, which sits on a 20.4-hectare plot, assets have been situated in the middle and
began in February 2020 and forms part of the southern parts of the country.
first phase of the Volta River Authority’s (VRA) The president said that this informed their
Renewable Energy Programme. decision “as part of our development trajec-
At the sod cutting of the project, President tory, to bring some of these sources closer to the
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo indicated Northern part of Ghana to open up additional
that the plant is expected to power 32,000 opportunities in that region’s development
households. drive”.
He added that is in line the government’s The Kaleo solar power plant is the second one
aim to achieve energy efficiency via greater use connected to the national grid since 2013.
of natural gas, the adoption of cleaner cooking
Week 34 25•August•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P13
