In charting resilient pathways for a sustainable future in Zimbabwe''s energy sector, there is a need to promote a mix of energy sources from renewables, nuclear, and clean fossil fuels. Energy security has come to the fore in the context of climate change.
Energy security refers to the reliable and uninterrupted availability of energy resources to meet a country’s economic, social, and environmental needs. It encompasses multiple dimensions, including the availability, affordability, accessibility, and sustainability of energy sources.
The need to ensure that a nation has a diverse and stable energy supply, minimizing the risks associated with energy disruptions, price volatility, and geopolitical tensions is also central to energy security.
Experts in the energy sector assert that there are significant risks to energy infrastructure and supply chains due to climate change impacting the transmission and distribution of fuel supply chains and potentially increasing energy demand.
Isaac Chiridza a Conservation Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry, in Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainability, Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficiency calls for a delicate balance on climate-proofing energy infrastructure.
Chiridza, a Principal Energy Development Officer Ministry of Energy and Power Development says damage to infrastructure from extreme weather events, such as floods and storms, can damage transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks.
He cautions that risks to distribution supply chains, such as disrupted transportation routes or extreme weather events affecting fuel storage and distribution, can disrupt the supply chain for fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
During heat waves, as temperatures rise due to climate change, the demand for cooling and air conditioning in Zimbabwe is likely to increase. This will put additional strain on energy systems, particularly during peak demand periods says Chiridza
Globally the need for diversification of energy sources has risen to the fore as Russia''s attack on Ukraine sparked a global energy crisis that left Western nations scrambling to reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas to focus on nuclear technology.
For the Global South this transition or diversification of energy sources faces not only financial constrains but the risks of losing out on potential stranded reserves as the fossil fuel reserves far outweigh carbon reduction targets states Chiridza.
Zimbabwe has already felt the pangs of this financing shocks having lost out a Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) finances to a proposed 2,800-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station near the Sengwa coal field in Gokwe North, Zimbabwe.
ICBC pullout follows a trend already set by the Philippines-based multilateral bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) —one of the region''s biggest energy financiers, which announced in May 2021, in a new draft energy policy, it was cutting down all financing of fossil fuels.
Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has expressed concerns on coal mining calling on government to move along with international trends, of a global shift from coal financing, to allocate more financial resources towards funding investments in renewable energy.
In a damning report ''Coal Investments in Zimbabwe: A misplaced priority'' CNRG said decisions to finance coal investments are not only undemocratic and unilateral, but also prejudice the country''s commitment to international conventions towards reducing carbon emissions.
"The country''s addiction to coal is not healthy for the citizenry as it does not only go against Zimbabwe''s own policy and strategies but also globally agreed frameworks," states part of the report.
The importance of diversifying energy sources speaks also to reducing dependence on a single energy source through investing in resilient technologies and systems, but this must be contextualized argues Chiridza.
"Enhancing energy independence is important and we are glad that there has been some oil discovered in Muzarabani which will help us to be independent in terms of the fuel sector. Because we are still growing there are issues that we then weigh out, a growing economy needs a tariff that supports economic growth and development, so we tend to use cheaper base loads.
"In our case, coal is cheaper, but we need to consider cleaning mechanisms that then clean the coal before and after combustion. For us coal, we can control it because it is a resource that we have in abundance.
He added, "Energy security focuses on a diverse supply to reduce disruptions and avoid price volatility and geopolitical interruptions in the energy sector. Zimbabwe is 50% energy secure because of the importation of fuel and reliance on renewable energy technologies because of manufacturing dependence."
Interrupted electricity supply also significantly impacts the productivity of the economy, with key sectors like mining and manufacturing heavily impacted by the need to seek alternative power sources.
Power utility Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) current power production is peaking at 1100 MW against a demand of 2000 MW daily, while the fuel requirement is 500 million litres per day of both diesel and petrol, exposing the country to serious shortages.
The industry is calling for a sustainable solution to the current power situation which has become perennial at a time when inefficiencies at the country''s smaller thermal power stations Bulawayo, Munyati, and Harare have also worsened the situation.
ZESA is also battling to service its debt to two regional power utilities Eskom of South Africa and Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique that have covered Zimbabwe to cover its huge power deficit and reduce extensive load shedding.
Building resilience in the face of climate change impacts is also hinged on overcoming barriers to investment in renewable energy and mobilizing finance for sustainable energy projects in cooperation with global partners said Chiridza.
"We also need to look at issues to deal with global cooperation in terms of energy security and climate change because energy security is a challenge of foreign policy in a world of increased interconnectedness."
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Ellen Fungisai Chipango does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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