Former Eskom Acting CEO Awarded Licence To Produce Solar Energy In Mat-South

A company owned by ex-Eskom acting CEO Matshela Koko has been awarded a license to produce solar energy in Zimbabwe’s Matebeleland South Province.

In a statement released Sunday, the country’s energy regulator, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) said the company will “construct, own, operate and maintain the 100MW solar power plant called Matshela Energy” in Gwanda, south of Zimbabwe.

“Subject to the Electricity Act and the terms and conditions of the license, the licensee may supply electricity to any transmission, distribution or supply licensee who purchases electricity for re-sale and with approval of the Authority to any one or more consumers.”

Power-short Zimbabwe has removed import duties on solar-energy-related products, from batteries to cables, and mandated that all new construction in the country include solar systems.

On Saturday, Koko tweeted a statement from Zimbabwe authorities confirming the contract.

The government has set a target to get at least 1,575 megawatts of power from solar by 2030 – about the same amount of electricity the country produces today from a range of sources.