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Zimbabwe cement

maker invests $40mn

in solar plant

ZIMBABWE ZIMBABWE cement maker Pretoria Portland the power utility rations electricity and imports
Cement (PPC) has launched a $40mn solar pro- from South Africa and Mozambique, when for-
ject that will yield 30MW to be used to run its eign currency is available.
two plants southwest of the country. A growing number of businesses are setting
Of the total energy output, according to up solar projects to ensure stable energy availa-
local daily The Chronicle, 17MW will be used at bility. A number of independent power produc-
PPC’s Collen Bawn and Bulawayo plants whose ers are seeing an opportunity as well.
installed capacity is 1.4mn tonnes per year. The The Bulawayo solar farm will cover 22
remainder will sold to the national grid. hectares and have about 20,000 panels while
The Bulawayo factory will have a 10MW the Collen Bawn one will be on 45ha with
plant, with 5MW earmarked for internal use 18MW-hours of battery storage. They will be
while the Collen Bawn plant will develop a connected to string inverters of 225kw each to
20MW capacity, 12MW being used internally. convert the solar power into usable alternative
Marvellas Sibanda, PPC head of supply chain current, Sibanda said.
and strategic projects, said the Zimbabwean Breaking ground at PPC’s Bulawayo factory
independent power producer ATC Consor- on Tuesday (April 26), Industry and Commerce
tium, which works with Sinohydro of China, will Minister Sekai Nzenza, said by transitioning to
build, own and operate the project and transfer it solar energy, the cement maker is complement-
to PPC after 20 years. ing government efforts towards climate change
“To demonstrate the high-quality nature of mitigation and adaptation and enhancing the
the project, over 40 000 panels will be ground sustainability of the local energy sector.
mounted at the site and will be connected to the “I exhort other players in the cement industry
excess capacity,” he is quoted as saying. “The solar to take a leaf from this initiative and also reduce
PV plants will improve power quality through- carbon intensity in their production processes,”
out the sits, leading to PPC Zimbabwe being able The Chronicle quotes her as saying.
to operate at maximum capacity to meet current “These should include the use of techni-
demand and subsequently boosting economic cal solutions such as fuel switching, improved
growth through the construction sector.” energy efficiency and clinker replacements. I
Sibanda said the investment will contribute further challenge other companies and indus-
to the country’s target to produce 26.5% of its tries to put in place deliberate measures and
energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. targets to boost the consumption of renewable
Zimbabwe’s national grid is struggling to energy towards a thriving economy that posi-
meet demand due to ageing generation plants, tively impacts on the environment and a clean
their low capacity and limited investment in new energy future.”™
generation facilities over the years. As a result,

Week 17 28•April•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P13