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China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
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Econet, a major telecom operator in Zimbabwe, has launched an electrification project to help transform rural businesses and create jobs in Zimbabwe.
The programme, Ugesi Energy is worth millions of dollars and is the second Econet energy business following the successful launch of Distributed Power Africa (DPA) in 2017. DPA is the group’s commercial solar business, focused on building large solar energy systems for commercial and industrial clients.
The plan is to build solar mini-grids at 100 sites across rural Zimbabwe and each grid will provide power for businesses and homes in the communal areas. However, the initial phase will see small grids provide electricity to support businesses, local administration facilities at growth points, schools and clinics.
Providing power to an area within a radius of 5 kilometres to the solar system, the mini-grids would generate enough power to support all electrical appliances and will be accompanied by individual prepaid meters.
Rural Zimbabwe is faced with energy challenges due to the prohibitive costs of extending national electricity grids. Although national electricity access stands at 40 percent, only 21 percent of the rural population has access to electricity as against 80 percent of urban dwellers.
The country is landlocked, where agriculture is the major economic driver in the rural areas and un-electrified households use wood as the main source of energy for cooking.
With over 67 percent of the country's population living in rural areas, the need for improved access to energy in local communities cannot be over-emphasized but current power generated is not sufficient.
Worldwide, energy access has become a key determinant in improving people's lives, mainly in rural communities where basic needs are met with difficulty. Through access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity, Ugesi will foster sustainable socio-economic transformation in Zimbabwe’s rural communities in many ways.
