• Vungu Solar Pvt Ltd signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with ZETDC for a 30 MW solar plant.
• The project serves as the pilot for Zimbabwe’s Government Project Support Agreement to attract private solar investment.
• The plant could supply electricity to about 76,000 households and supports Zimbabwe’s 2030 universal electrification goal.

Vungu Solar Pvt Ltd signed a 25-year power purchase agreement on January 27, with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for the development of a 30 MWac solar power plant. Authorities held the signing ceremony in Harare, the country’s capital.

The Vungu Solar project serves as the pilot for the government’s Government Project Support Agreement, a mechanism that Zimbabwean authorities designed to attract independent solar power producers through standardized and bankable contracts.

The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) leads the project’s development through its InfraCo platform, in partnership with Energywise Equipment and Impala Power Company. Authorities estimate that the plant could supply electricity to approximately 76,000 households.

“ZETDC welcomes this power purchase agreement, which represents an important contribution to meeting the energy needs of Zimbabwean consumers and industries. We look forward to seeing this project materialize as soon as possible,” said Raphael Katsande, Acting Managing Director of ZETDC.

The project aligns with the objectives of Zimbabwe’s National Energy Compact, which targets universal access to electricity by 2030 through a combination of grid-connected solar, mini-grids, and distributed solar systems.

At the same time, the government aims to increase the share of renewable energy excluding hydropower from 7.8% to 31% of the electricity mix. Rising energy demand underpins this trajectory, driven by mining sector expansion, agricultural irrigation, industrialization, and population growth.

This article was initially published in French by Abdoullah Diop

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM