SHANGHAI Stock Exchange-listed CHiNT Electric Company has
confirmed its commitment through the successful implementation of the 100
Megawatts Gwanda solar project after its local partner, Intratrek Zimbabwe, won
a contract dispute in the High Court.
The globally reputable solar energy company has also committed to secure a multi-million dollar advance payment guaranteed to deliver the first quarter of the Gwanda project’s total power output within six months of time after advance payment.
The solar project which is set to be built in Gwanda,
Matabeleland South province, appeared to have gone off rails after a
contractual dispute between its local partner Intratrek and state power
utility, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).
The High Court ordered the parties to meet by early February
to discuss the way forward and that any party that fails to play ball will be
deemed to be in breach of the original dictates of the contract.
The company has proposed to implement the project in phases
broken down into four modules of almost equal production Minister Gumbo said
yesterday that Government was still keen on the Gwanda project and desirous to
see its successful implementation.
He also said the Ministry of Energy was open to engage
CHiNT’s local partner to discuss the way forward, as propounded by the High
Court, once outstanding legal issues are resolved.CHiNT said it awaited the
intervention of the Ministry of Energy to make a decisive intervention by
exhorting parties to the deal to dialogue on the way forward as directed by the
court, which would demonstrate Zimbabwe’s openness for business, as declared by
President Mnangagwa
He also said that building excess power generation capacity
through developing sustainable and clean renewable energy sources such as solar
power represented an opportunity for Zimbabwe to earn the much sought after
forex if it builds capacity to export into SADC.
With a staff compliment of over 29 000 worldwide, CHiNT has
successfully installed an average of 5 000MW of solar generation plants
worldwide, including power systems for Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and
Distribution Company.
