Zimbabwe Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in zimbabwe, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Energy
Last published date:

Overview

Zimbabwe’s electricity supply is primarily generated by coal and hydroelectric power plants, with Chinese firms dominating the market. The country’s installed power generation capacity of 2,600 megawatts (MW), with average generation at approximately 1,500 MW, falls short of the 4,000 MW required to fully support industry and households. To address the shortfall, Zimbabwe imports electricity from Zambia and Mozambique.
In 2023, the Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) commissioned two new thermal power units at the Hwange power station, adding 600 MW to the grid. However, demand continues to exceed supply. Zimbabwe has approved several solar and coal energy projects, but these remain under development. The country’s main hydropower plant at Kariba Dam and the Hwange coal-fired power station operate at one-third of their capacity due to aging equipment and low water levels at Kariba. As a result, Zimbabwe experiences periodic blackouts lasting up to 12 hours, exacerbated by the government’s limited financial capacity to import electricity from neighboring countries.

General Electric Co. (GE) was previously selected to produce turbines for the planned Batoka Gorge hydroelectric power plant, a $4.5 billion project designed to generate 2,400 MW shared equally between Zambia and Zimbabwe, with surplus power feeding into the Southern Africa regional grid. However, the project has been on hold since April 2021 due to financing challenges. In 2023, Zambia canceled a 2019 contract awarded to General Electric Co. and China’s Power Construction Corp., citing procurement irregularities. Despite these setbacks, Zambia and Zimbabwe are intensifying efforts to attract investment for the long-stalled project.

Opportunities

Zimbabwe’s ongoing power crisis, increasing demand for solar energy, and favorable climate for solar power generation present significant opportunities for U.S. companies. The country’s aging coal plants, many of which are in disrepair, offer additional opportunities for U.S. firms to provide maintenance and equipment upgrades, including clean coal technology.

Even with the completion of the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric project, Zimbabwe will still face energy shortages, particularly in the mining sector. Mining companies have expressed interest in investing in private power generation to support 24/7 operations. Additionally, exploration of potential oil and gas deposits in Muzarabani is ongoing, creating further opportunities for U.S. energy firms.

Resources

Zimbabwe Power Company
12th Floor, Megawatt House, 44 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare
Email: pr@zpc.co.zw
Phone: (+263 24) 2250407-9, 2770675, 2770672

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA)
14th Floor Century Towers, 45 Samora Machel Ave, Harare
Email: admin@zera.co.zw

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility