MARONDERA – The proposed 150 MegaWatt (MW) Marondera solar project has received a significant boost following a partnership between local firm De-Green Rhino Energy and United Kingdom-based Green Power.
Under the agreement, Green Power will inject US$160 million into the project, which will feed into the national grid with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) as the off-taker.
Beyond strengthening Zimbabwe’s electricity supply, the project is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits to the local community, including job creation and infrastructure development.
Green Power chief executive Jordan Assassa confirmed that civil works at the solar plant will begin in the first quarter of next year, with completion targeted for 2027.
“We are excited to be part of this massive project that will benefit more than 250,000 households in Marondera and beyond. Our investment will bring clean energy to schools and hospitals, and demonstrates Zimbabwe’s investor-friendly environment under its current leadership,” Assassa said.
De-Green Rhino Energy director Francis Gogwe echoed the optimism, noting that the partnership would boost Mashonaland East province’s GDP and create hundreds of jobs, particularly during the construction phase.
The solar plant will be built at Rufaro Farm in Marondera, land allocated to De-Green Rhino Energy by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development.
The initiative aligns with President Mnangagwa’s recently launched National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2), which prioritizes universal access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy by 2030.
According to NDS-2, government will continue promoting renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro, while encouraging private sector participation through Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and public-private partnerships. ZETDC will serve as the off-taker of last resort for excess power, supported by cost-reflective tariffs to ensure viability and investor confidence.
