De Green Rhino eyes Sep start of work on 150-MW solar plant in Zimbabwe - report

Zimbabwe-incorporated De Green Rhino Energy expects to commence construction on the first phase of a 150-MW solar project in the African country in September, a top official told local newspaper The Chronicle.

Francis Gogwe, CEO of one of the two joint venture partners -- De Opper Trading, told the daily that the developer is currently working on securing a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) and anticipates the signing to occur by the end of April 2016. According to Gogwe, De Green Rhino Energy will start feeding electricity into the grid from the 50-MW Phase I by August or September 2017.

The solar park, to be situated in the town of Marondera, is part of Green Rhino’s plans to invest USD 5.2 billion (EUR 4.6bn) in the next 15 years to build 2,500 MW of solar parks in Zimbabwe.

The other project partner is London-based Green Rhino Energy, which is led by sector experts from Germany.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.887)

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