Back to Index

Speech by the Minister of Energy and Power Development Hon. Elton Mangoma on the Commissioning of the Pilot Public Solar Water Heating Project
Elton Mangoma, Ministry of Energy and Power Development
February 14, 2013

Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable Hubert M Nyanhongo;

Your Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea to Zimbabwe, Mr. Kwang Chul-Lew;

Secretary for Energy and Power Development, Mr. Partson Mbiriri; Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Washington Mbizvo; Permanent Secretaries here present;

Senior Government Officials;

Vice Chancellor of Harare Institute of Technology, Professor Quinton Kanhukamwe;

Harare Institute of Technology Management and Staff;

Representatives of KOICA;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning and welcome to this very important occasion in the history of energy generation in Zimbabwe, the commissioning of the Pilot Public Solar Water Heating Project funded by the Government of the Republic of South Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

I am pleased and feel honoured to be part of this momentous project for Zimbabwe, the first in history.

It's my great pleasure to be here and surrounded by a group of people who are passionate about Zimbabwe's energy development, particularly in the renewable energy sector

Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to witness the commissioning of this pilot project and let me take this opportunity to inform you that two systems have been installed under this pilot phase, one here at HIT and another one at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) with storage capacity of 15 000 and 13 000 litres respectively.

Zimbabweans all across the country have a sad story to tell about the power shortages they experience every day in their homes, schools and in the factories. It is a setback that has affected the major hospitals and colleges in Harare and Bulawayo to clinics and health centres in Chendambuya and Mutoko; from schools in Filabusi to the everyday power consumers in Mutare and Victoria Falls.

The commissioning of these solar heaters is coming at the best time to show the people of Zimbabwe that we are aware of the energy plight. Guided by our forward looking National Energy Policy (NEP) we will discharge our national duty and bring about this key enabler of our vision of a $100 billion economy by 2040.

Energy is the key enabler for the creation and promotion of millions of jobs which will ensure that this visional growth is shared by all at the same time preserving our environment for future generations. We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

Zimbabweans have gotten to the stage where they want to see real change on the ground. As Authorities we need to generate policies that generate millions of jobs which will bring about real transformation. The many young disgruntled unemployed youths will therefore find a source of livelihood which will help uplift the lives of their families.

Ladies and gentlemen, clear energy policies framed around the need to enable the people of Zimbabwe to have full access to Modern energy sources is a key enabler and forerunner for our vision 2040.

I cannot imagine the majority of Zimbabweans using firewood in 2040 as a major source of energy. We need to provide modern energy so as to liberate our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters to pursue their dreams.

The commissioning of this Pilot Public Solar Water Heating Project, funded by the Government of the Republic of South Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is a very important occasion in the history of energy generation in Zimbabwe.

Installations of this extent are the first of their kind in the country. Besides providing hot water for the two institutions, the one at UBH also provides space heating for incubators in the maternity ward.

Zimbabwe is blessed in that it lies in one of the best solar radiation belts in the world, averaging at 2,100 kilowatt hours per square metre per year and 3,000 hours, equivalent to 300 days of sunshine per year.

However, this resource is currently underutilized.

The main thing that makes solar technology more expensive is the need to produce and store during the day for use at night. Our situation in Zimbabwe is that electricity is short during the day so there is no need to produce and store. In this regard, we are looking at plant(s) to feed into the grid on a produce and consume basis. A tender for a 100MW solar plant will be floated before the end of March this year.

The solar energy can also be harnessed on a standalone basis for water pumping, powering Tower and street lights, traffic lights, solar lamps and water heating in homes and institutions. There is high need for solar energy and systems in Zimbabwe.

This pilot project is to show that solar energy can be used to replace grid electricity to heat water. The electricity saved from solar water heating is directed to other sectors of the economy. I call upon the private sector to invest in the exploitation of the solar technology as well as maximising the use of this natural and renewable resource.

Our sincere appreciation goes to the Government of South Korea, for sponsoring this project through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). I hope such spirit of cooperation will grow from strength to strength and encourage other international organisations to join hands with us in promoting the use of clean, renewable energy for the benefit of our future generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, to thank the Government of the Republic of South Korea through His Excellency, the Ambassador here present and KOICA for heeding our call for assistance through their generous donation of the solar water heating equipment.

It is my sincere hope that this project does not end at this pilot stage but that we scale it up to other public institutions through this bilateral cooperation. I would also want this cooperation to grow from strength to strength to ensure sustainability through technology transfer in the energy sector incorporating manufacturing and/or assembling some of the equipment locally.

In conclusion, I would want to call upon other cooperating partners to join hands with us to develop a sustainable energy future for generations to come. I would also want to challenge potential suppliers and users of the solar water heater technology here present, from the solar companies, manufacturing, commercial, hospitality and tourism industries to invest in this technology, for together we will be able to make it work and derive maximum benefits from this god given resource.

I would also want to thank HIT and UBH for accepting to be "guinea pigs", as it were by hosting this pilot project. I urge you take good care of these assets so that others can be inspired to learn from you and it is only through proper maintenance that the assets can provide a good service to you for a longer time.

I thank you.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP