Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to exploring nuclear energy to boost electricity generation in the country as part of a balanced energy portfolio.
According to Chiwenga, the government is exploring a diverse range of energy solutions to diversify the country’s energy mix.
This includes gas-to-power projects, particularly those derived from the Muzarabani gas reserves, which will play a transitional role in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Vice President Chiwenga made these remarks during his keynote address at the official opening of the 6th International Renewable Energy Conference in Victoria Falls last Wednesday, April 9,2025.
The conference is held under the theme “Sustainable Energy Investments for a Better Future” and highlights Zimbabwe’s growing commitment to integrating renewable energy into its economic transformation and climate resilience strategy.
“We are also investigating nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors, as part of a balanced energy portfolio,” Chiwenga said.
He added that Zimbabwe holds the largest lithium reserves in Africa and ranks fifth globally.
“We are prioritizing the value addition of energy transition minerals such as manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt, and lithium, which will drive the production of locally manufactured energy technologies.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Dr. Gloria Magombo, said the use of modular nuclear systems is a possibility.
“We are also looking at the use of renewable energy and modular nuclear systems, which are clean because nuclear is an enclosed system. So, it’s clean, and it doesn’t emit. However, we need to manage nuclear waste, and there are established systems for that. As a country, we are considering adopting this technology in the next 10 to 15 years.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Discover more from Energy News Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.