By Ayomide Otitoju
Zimbabwe is rolling out the Zimbabwean National Energy Development Compact to advance its energy value chain, with the country targeting up to $9 billion in investment across generation, transmission, and distribution.
The strategy was highlighted by Minister of Energy and Power Development, July Moyo, during the “Invest in Zimbabwe: Investor Briefing” at the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference on Tuesday. The session, led by the Government of Zimbabwe and Invictus Energy, focused on emerging opportunities in natural gas, renewable energy, and mining.
“We have significant opportunities in power generation, transmission, distribution, and retail. Beyond oil and gas, we aim to benefit from associated infrastructure projects. As a landlocked country, our compact connects us with the rest of Africa,” Minister Moyo said.
The compact is built around five key pillars: expanding generation infrastructure; leveraging regional integration; embracing distributed renewable energy and clean cooking solutions; incentivizing private sector participation; and ensuring financially viable utilities that deliver reliable and affordable services. The strategy also emphasizes expanding energy access and highlighting investment opportunities.
Deputy Director for Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy, Isaac Chiridza, noted: “We aim to mobilize $9 billion in investments, with $4.42 billion coming from the private sector. Our goal is to increase access to clean cooking from 38% to 70%, reducing reliance on firewood and charcoal, and expand renewable energy, including large-scale hydropower, from 7% to 29% using mini-grids and small-scale hydro.”
Investors can engage in Zimbabwe’s power sector as independent power producers, through public-private partnerships, or by generating power for their own use, according to Cletus Nyachowe, CEO of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. Opportunities also exist in transmission, with Abel Gurupira, Acting Managing Director of the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, highlighting demand for power transport both domestically and across the Southern African Power Pool.
Historically reliant on hydropower, Zimbabwe’s energy mix is diversifying into natural gas. Invictus Energy is spearheading exploration in the Cabora Bassa Project in northern Zimbabwe, one of the world’s largest untested frontier rift basins, recently awarded National Project Status by the government.
“Zimbabwe is not yet a producer of oil and gas, but we hope to change that. The Mukuyu well drilled in 2023 ranks among the largest discoveries in Africa, demonstrating Cabora Bassa’s basin-scale potential,” said John Bentley, Board Member of Invictus Energy.
Beyond natural gas, coal and renewable energy production are also set to grow. Coal output is expected to rise 10.5% in 2025 to 6.3 million tons, while solar, wind, and hydropower projects aim to strengthen supply and regional trade. Nobert Matarutse, Acting Managing Director of Zimbabwe Power Company, confirmed plans to expand Hwange Power Station with units 9 and 10, followed by units 11 and 12.
