By Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday officially opened the 3rd International Renewable Energy Conference where he revealed that the adoption of cleaner and renewable energy sources has the potential to strengthen development, social and environmental sustainability.
The Conference which ran from 23 - 25 March 2022 was held in Victoria Falls at the Elephant Hills Hotel and was running under the theme “New Frontier of Net Zero Africa”
President Mnangagwa said that Zimbabwe is committed to global aspirations and goals in relation to climate change adaptation.
“I would like, therefore to reiterate that Zimbabwe remains committed to the global aspirations and goals in relation to climate change adaptation. My Government has deliberately developed multi-pronged national policies, to mainstream our mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change, including the renewable energy policy, that seek to enhance the use of alternative energies.
"The adoption of cleaner and renewable energy sources has the potential to advance equality, tackle poverty while strengthening development, social and environmental sustainability," President Mnangagwa said
His Excellency added that regional member states have to work towards the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that talks about clean energy by 2030 through expanding infrastructure, upgrading technology to provide clean energy and efficient to energy generation.
“As we do so, it is important that we remain alive to our obligation to work concertedly towards the realisation of SDG 7 by expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide clean energy and efficient to energy generation and use, in our countries," His Excellency President Mnangagwa said.
The conference comes at a time when Zimbabwe is pushing for the adoption of green energy sources. The country has been facing the shortage of power supply problems as such efforts are underway under the National Development Strategy 1(NDS1) to upgrade renewable energy.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Energy and Power Development Cde Soda Zhemu promised that by 2030 his Ministry would have installed around 1100MW of renewable energy.
President Mnangagwa last week commissioned the SolGas Solar Power Plant and toured the Gwayi-Shangani Dam currently under construction both of which contribute to renewable energy.