Small Scale Miners opting for Solar power
Small Scale Miners in the Great Dyke are working on plans to adopt solar energy as a substitute for electricity which is currently in short supply in the country.
Mirirai Melissa Ngoya
Excessive power blackouts within the country have been leading to detonation of mining activities for the small scale miners. Fuel prices have also been continuing to hike living their operations at risk. Nonetheless, this time they have resorted to adopting farm solar energy.
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Miners Federation spokesperson Dosman Mangisi said that plans are already in motion to adopt solar energy system which they perceive as a good initiative considering that fuel prices are continuing to hike for them to opt for generators as a power supply source.
He said “Statistics show that Zimbabwe enjoys more than 3 000 hours of sunlight a year and has a potential to produce 10 000GWh of electrical energy per year if solar energy is fully harnessed. The Government removed duty on solar equipment in July to reduce dependence on power on the national grid as individuals and companies would have alternatives.”
Due to electricity power supply shortages which have hit Zimbabwe, Mr Mangisi added on to say” The solar project is noble plan looking forward to pushing up our production as small scale miners. ” Moreover, he said that they are looking forward to having such projects in conjunction with big mines.
As highlighted by Honorable Minister fortune Chasi that miners can have their own solar farms, the small scale miners must take this initiative to come up with their own power supply source.
Mr Mangisi also said “the government has given a green light in exempting the energy projects for the benefit of the mining sector. ”
Considering the current merciless power cuts the country is facing, this can be seen as a brilliant move to increase production in the mining sector.