Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration between Zimbabwe and Zambia to take advantage of advanced energy technologies, including solar mini-grids, energy storage, and smart grids. This initiative aims to increase electricity access, particularly in remote areas of both countries, and improve energy availability in underserved regions.
Speaking at the inaugural Zimbabwe-Zambia Energy Projects Summit in Victoria Falls, Chiwenga highlighted that expanding energy access is vital for driving economic growth and improving citizens’ lives. He stressed that energy is a basic right that supports critical sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and employment, and that no one should be left behind in this effort.
Chiwenga also emphasized the need for innovation and collaboration to transform the energy sectors in both countries. He pointed out that Zimbabwe and Zambia are rich in energy resources, including hydropower, solar, and wind, which should be harnessed in a sustainable and fair manner to meet the increasing energy demands of their populations.
A key shared resource between the two nations is the Kariba Dam, located on the Zambezi River, which houses the Kariba North Power Station in Zambia and the Kariba South Power Station in Zimbabwe. These stations are crucial for meeting the energy needs of both countries, with Kariba North being Zambia’s largest underground hydroelectric power station (1,080 MW capacity) and Kariba South being Zimbabwe’s second-largest (1,050 MW capacity). However, both nations have faced disruptions in power generation due to low water levels in the dam.
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