GABORONE, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pan African energy producing company headquartered in Botswana - Investor Solar Africa has appointed Germany developer Soventix to build 22MW, photovoltaic project in Zimbabwe.
The company on Friday announced that Soventix' s subsidiary Soventix South Africa will start constructing the Harava project across 40 hectares of land in the Bwoni Village, Seke Rural District, South West of Zimbabwe's capital Harare.
Invest Solar Africa said local villagers will own 10 percent of the project through a Community Development Share Ownership Trust.
According to the company, the fixed-tilt PV project will include 66,528 solar modules and 192 string inverters, and have an approximate energy generation capacity of 40GWh per year.
Jean-Paul de Villiers, Managing Director of Soventix South Africa is optimistic about the project's potential.
"Pioneering such projects into Africa has its challenges, however through commitment and tenacity both Soventix SA and the developer have overcome," said de Villiers.
The photovoltaic market in Zimbabwe is still in the initial stage, though the country offers great weather conditions to use the potential of solar energy.
"Solar energy in southern Africa has convincing prospects for the population, local economy and international investors."
Meanwhile energy costs in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia are high, while businesses do not have reliable power supply, giving strong opportunities for solar deployment.
