Staff Writer
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) today signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the 30MW Vungu Solar project, moving a step closer to development.
Located in the Midlands Province, the Vungu Solar project is among the first internationally project-financed solar independent power producers in the country.
The project was founded by Energywise Equipment and Impala Power Company and is being developed by the UK-based Private Infrastructure Development Group through its development arm, InfraCo Africa.
The project serves as the national pilot for the government of Zimbabwe’s Government Project Support Agreement, a policy framework designed to de-risk private investment in the energy sector.
The agreement was signed between Vungu Solar and the ZETDC during a reception at the British Ambassador Pete Vowles’ residence in Harare.
Speaking at the signing event, Ambassador Vowles said the agreement is an important step towards finalising the Vungu Solar project, which will provide enough power for 76,000 homes.
“By agreeing on a pricing structure, this project is also helping to set a template for more investors to enter Zimbabwe’s renewable energy market, creating jobs and building a greener future for all. It is a strong reflection of our countries’ shared commitment to sustainable growth,” he said.
ZETDC Acting Managing Director Engineer Howard Choga welcomed the PPA as heralding an important contribution to meeting the energy needs of Zimbabwean consumers and industries.
Once operational, the 30MW facility will provide enough clean electricity to power approximately 76,000 homes, directly contributing to Zimbabwe’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030.
“The government of Zimbabwe selected Vungu as its preferred bidder through a pilot initiative by which it hoped to negotiate a set of bankable, standardised documents – including the PPA signed here today – which can be used by other solar projects in the future, attracting development and private sector investment to accelerate the country’s energy transition, and achieve its ambitious electrification targets,” Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Benson Munyaradzi, said.
Speaking on behalf of Vungu, Energywise CEO, Culven Chipfumbu, said the signing of the PPA is a key milestone for Vungu Solar.
“…we would like to acknowledge the commitment of ZETDC, ZERA, and our partners, PIDG and Impala, to the project. We are committed to working to secure financing for the project with a sense of urgency so that we can start construction as soon as possible,” Chipfumbu said.
The project aims to establish a transparent template for future renewable energy investors by utilising standardised, bankable documentation developed with support from the African Legal Support Facility.
The framework includes provisions for cost-reflective tariffs and currency convertibility, addressing key historical barriers to entry for international financiers in the region.
Beyond household access, the project is expected to offset approximately 75,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, supporting Zimbabwe’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
The development also addresses the country’s urgent need to diversify its energy mix, which has historically relied heavily on coal and climate-vulnerable hydroelectric power from the Kariba Dam.
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