Zimbabwe’s national energy efficiency policy zero draft to undergo validation 

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Energy and Power Development Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy department has produced the country’s national energy efficiency policy zero draft which is expected to undergo stakeholder validation soon. This is  according to communication released by Mr Isaac Chiridza, the Principal Energy Development Officer in the ministry.

According to the ministry, the main goal of the National Energy Efficiency Policy is to encourage the adoption of energy efficiency strategies to support Zimbabwe to achieve an upper middle-class Income economic status by 2030. It is reported that the energy efficiency policy is a sub policy developed under the overall framework laid out by the National Energy Policy of 2012. The other subsidiary policies under the same are the National Renewable Energy Policy (NREP) of 2019 and the Biofuels Policy of 2020. 

The National Energy Efficiency Policy (NEEP) has been prepared through broad consultation with key stakeholder groups covering the entire energy value chain. These stakeholders are the energy regulator (ZERA), the national utility (ZESA), various ministries and government departments, development partners, subject matter experts, civil society, individuals, academia, researchers and various organisations and institutions with direct and indirect interest in energy issues. Stakeholder consultations were carried out across the country’s provinces. 

Reports claim that the policy intends to stimulate energy efficiency in fulfilment of the following broad policy objectives to promote energy efficiency. This will ensure that a comprehensive, integrated and well informed energy efficiency strategy is put in place for effective socio-economic development. Roles and responsibilities for implementing various energy efficiency initiatives and interventions in the country will be established. There will be provision for the framework to  set  targets relating to various energy efficiency interventions in the domestic and residential, commercial, mining, transport, agriculture and industrial sectors. This will stimulate sustainable economic growth by promoting competition, efficiency and investment in clean energy, improving access to affordable, competitive, and reliable energy services. An environment   conducive for the development and provision of energy services will be established whilst prioritising and promoting the development of local technologies in development. There will be delivery of energy efficiency, promotion of capacity building, standards, and codes of practice and energy efficiency specifications for equipment, systems and processes, ensuring the inclusion of gender, economic, environmental, social, health and safety considerations.  Climate change issues shall be factored in  for electricity, petroleum, biomass and waste energy sector developments, fostering international co-operation in energy efficiency, investments and development whilst supporting and complimenting the provisions in the energy policy, renewable energy policy, biofuel policy, climate change policy and other policies in Zimbabwe.

As per country overview, it is reported that the energy balance for Zimbabwe consists of coal, oil, hydro as well as biofuels and waste. The energy balance shows that the country predominantly uses bioenergy and waste as a primary energy source accounting for up to 63% of total energy consumption. The consumption can be explained by the country’s demographics which according to the 2012 census, 68 % of the 13.1 million people live in rural areas.

On the fuel side, the biofuels policy of 2020 estimates that the country uses three million three hundred thousand (3 300 000) and four million three hundred thousand (4 300 000) litres of petrol and diesel per day respectively. On the electricity front Zimbabwe currently has a national electrification rate of 42%. The National Energy Policy of 2012 states that the urban electrification rate has reached 83% of the households, as compared to a rural electrification rate of just 13%. At present Zimbabwe has an achievable capacity generation of one thousand one hundred (1100MW) against peak power supply needed of one thousand four hundred megawatts the (1400MW). Zimbabwe therefore imports between one hundred and fifty megawatts (150MW) to four hundred megawatts (400MW) from neighbouring countries, mainly South Africa and Mozambique. In dire situations the country resorts to load shedding. 

Previous studies done notes that the country can save 377MW of electricity usage if energy efficiency is carried out. It is added that Zimbabwe has vast opportunities for saving energy both on the supply and demand side and the efforts being made are not sufficient to realize large benefits in the form of offset investments in new plant capacity and improvement in supply situation.              Reports state that there is lack of sufficient data to establish energy savings through the use of more efficient technologies, switch in fuels, change of habits and processes hence the potential energy savings are underestimated. Energy efficiency in industry and commercial sectors is hampered by a combination of lack of awareness  and capacity to establish the potential energy savings and difficulties in accessing finance to implement the measures. 

The country is characterised with old equipment in residential, industrial and mining sectors resulting in low energy efficient levels. Zimbabwe’s energy intensity was reported as 16 MJ per USD of PPP GDP in 2018 (SACREE 2018) making it one of the top 3 worst performers in the SADC region after Mozambique and DRC. “The country has a long way to go if it intends to reach the global best practice figures of 3-5NJ per USD of PPP GDP. Thus the country presents vast opportunities not only for energy efficiency but energy productivity in its economic sectors. The country is committed to the continued development of successful energy efficiency policy that will also support strategies for energy, emissions reduction and economic growth. Energy efficiency plays a critical role in addressing energy security, environmental and economic challenges. Ensuring energy sufficiency and availability for future generations, and reducing the growth in Zimbabwe’s CO2 emissions, requires that energy resources are consumed in an efficient manner,” the ministry said.

Zimbabwe has taken a number of critical steps to shift the country towards more efficient consumption of energy albeit mostly in the electricity subsector only. The Energy Efficiency Policy builds on already made achievements and proposes a comprehensive set of initiatives to further unlock energy efficiency potential in the country.

The National Energy Efficiency Target Energy Efficiency policy has set the EE targets as 70% by 2030 below the projected “Business as Usual (BAU)” approach. The proposed and earmarked National Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action plan shall be informed by detailed and comprehensive EE Indicators shall break down and revise these targets as appropriate. It is further added that the government of Zimbabwe encourages the integration of energy efficiency measures across all the energy subsectors. It targets to address energy intensity across all the primary energy balance mix of the country including a mix of efficient electricity, biofuels and renewable energy solutions to achieve universal energy efficiency in the country.