Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Swiss firm in Zim solar joint venture
29/12/2013 00:00:00
by Business Reporter ENERGY, SWITZERLAND, SOLAR

LOCAL firm Oxygen Africa and Swiss-based Meeco Invest AG have announced a partnership deal to bring solar power boost to the country’s struggling energy sector.

Zimbabwe has been reeling under a decade-long power crisis that has seen supplies being rationed to both domestic and commercial users, hitting efforts to fire an economy battling to recover from a crippling recession.

The new joint-venture company, Oursun Energy, is fronted locally by top Harare lawyer Honour Mkushi, and Simbarashe Mhuriro will seek to develop new solar business in the country.

The new company will use the Meeco Group’s already established products to assist farmers in a country whose economy is agro-anchored.

“Oursun Energy will focus on supporting the agriculture, manufacturing, mining, telecom, and tourism industries with its world-class turnkey solutions provided by The Meeco Group for rural areas or telecommunication companies,” Oursun said in a statement.

“The core activities of Oursun Energy will be the construction of solar energy production facilities and the development of public-private partnership structures to build solar farms ranging from 10Mw to 100Mw,” Oursun said.

The company added: “Oxygen Africa will support the Joint Venture with its well-established network in the Zimbabwean industry as well as its good contacts to neighbouring countries whereas The Meeco Group will bring it its huge experience in the development and realization of renewable energy projects”.

Zimbabwe’s geographical situation is ideal for the implementation of solar energy and related applications such as energy storage, lighting or water pumping due to its level of radiation, one of the highest worldwide the group said.

“To partner with the Oxygen Group is a great opportunity for us to develop the production of solar energy in Zimbabwe, especially in off-grid regions. Both teams will work phenomenally together and we look forward to playing our part in driving renewable energy in Zimbabwe,” Mhuriro told New Zimbabwe.com.

Zimbabwe’s power deficit could benefit immensely from the harnessing of abundant solar energy to drive the country’s struggling industry.

Labels: ENERGY, SOLAR ENERGY, SWITZERLAND

posted by MrK @ 5:07 PM