President Emmerson Mnangagwa officiates at the 3rd International Conference on Renewable Energy hosted by Alpha Media Holdings
BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned independent power producers (IPPs) that were granted licences but have not commenced operations.
He said will not hesitate to evoke regulations to force IPPs to come on board.
Government has so far licensed 80 independent power producers (IPPs) projects with a potential to add a 7 000 megawatts to the national grid, more than three times the national requirement.
Officially opening the 3rd edition of the International Renewable Energy Conference and Expo hosted by Alpha Media Holdings in Victoria Falls, Mnangagwa said it is now imperative to invest in renewable energy if the country is to fight the devastating effects of climate change.
“Renewable energy is no longer a matter of choice, but a necessity given the negative effects of climate change. This conference must result in concrete recommendations and results in the way we do things in renewable energy. I am disappointed that there is a long list of companies that have licenses but they are not found on the ground,” he said.
“It is also disheartening that a number of licensed renewable energy independent power producers are taking too long to set up shop. The necessary modalities must be improved to ensure that licensed power projects are quickly implemented. Otherwise, we shall enforce regulations to give timelines of implementation.”
Mnangagwa accepted an invitation to be the patron of the conference extended to him by the AMH group CEO Kenias Mafukidze.
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