By:Chronicle

THE inaugural Zimbabwe-Zambia (Zim-Zam) Energy Projects Summit, which ended in Victoria Falls yesterday has provided a rare platform for energy stakeholders in both countries to collaborate towards addressing common electricity challenges and ensure universal access to energy by 2030.

The summit started on Sunday and ran under the theme “Powering Zimbabwe and Zambia’s Sustainable Energy Future: Unlocking Opportunities in Renewables, Grid Modernisation and Energy Access.”

Speaking at the closing ceremony on Tuesday, Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo said Zimbabwe and Zambia are bound by many common factors such as challenges and opportunities that need collaboration.

He said the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe are open to dialogue with financial, technical, and legal organisations to level out the playing field and ensure that investments find a viable destination in the two countries.

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“The common culture does not just bind our people, but common agenda to ensure universal access to clean sustainable energy for all citizens. Our two governments and rural electrification agencies are open to partnering with any entity that can provide grants and debt funding,” he said.

“We desire to ensure that efficient transmission and distribution network for transfer of power generation from anywhere in the region is facilitated. Let us work together to make sure when we meet next year, we will be reporting on progress and completed projects.”

The minister said Government is committed to addressing all perceived risks associated with investment in the energy sector.

“We will find each other and together we will mitigate the risks associated with our jurisdiction. Let me reiterate that we have an open door policy for you financiers, lenders, developers and all other energy players to identify impediments to investment in the sector and find solutions to these impediments,” he said.

Minister Moyo said the two countries and whole region were hit hard by the climate change and El Nino-driven drought that has affected water levels on the Zambezi River and power generation.

He said besides being a tourist attraction, Zambezi River is a critical asset of power generation as evidenced by projects being implemented by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) to develop projects along the river.

Minister Moyo said there is a need for masterplans that will meet targets of providing universal access to electricity by the year 2030.

With the mining and agriculture industries rapidly growing in the two countries, electricity demand will continue to sour.

“Rural areas remain critical to the development of our countries as the majority of people are in these areas. Through the Southern Africa Power Pool, we are collaboratively working with other governments across the region to ensure that our grids are strengthened for seamless trading of electricity for continuous conversations with the ministries of energy, Zera, Zida Zesa, and any other entities in Zimbabwe and Zambia to discuss opportunities,” said Minister Moyo.

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Zambian Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote said the summit was a success and a good starting point for the two countries and region.

“We must not have talk shows, and when we meet at the next conference we are going to report progress. As policymakers, we want to walk the talk, and I urge development partners to take this opportunity and invest in the energy sector in the two countries,” he said.