Zim opens energy market to competition

From the newsletter

Zimbabwe’s energy regulator (ZERA) will introduce a new competitive bidding process for electricity generation projects in 2026. This move, which replaces the current unsolicited bid system, is part of wider reforms aimed at opening the market to private companies. ZERA hopes the new process will attract investment, reduce tariffs and improve project quality.

• The announcement comes as Zimbabwe prepares to liberalise its electricity retail sector, allowing private companies to sell and distribute power, while the state utility retains control of the national transmission network.

• South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique and Zambia have implemented competitive bidding models for renewable energy projects, yielding positive results in terms of cost reduction and capacity growth.

More details