Mutasa District, Zimbabwe, November 1, 2018 - The NEPAD Agency started the implementation phase of its microgrid programme by sending a mission (led by Prof Mosad Elmissiry, Prof Diran Makinde, Mr Tich Simbini and Mr Ben Akubundu) to Zimbabwe to establish the status quo of its Nydiri microhydro project and to take the necessary steps to develop and implement the project.

The NEPAD microgrid programme aims at community empowerment and rural transformation through the provision of clean and modern energy through the setting up of smart microgrids.

Four projects in Zimbabwe, Malawi ,Ghana and Mali were chosen for development and implementation as part of NEPAD Microgrid programme. The Zimbabwe project requires the installation of a dam and microhydro generation station on Nyadiri River, in Mutasa District in the eastern highlands, to generate about 94 Kw to power a clinic, primary and secondary schools, a business centre and the local community. The clinic services 10 villages, each consisting of an average 200 households and the estimated population size of 10 000 people. In addition, it will have a component of community and women empowerment through the use of the electricity produced by the project in productive and commercial activities.

The NEPAD Agency’s team met with officials from the Ministry of Energy and Power Development; the Rural Electrification Agency; the Zimbabwe Transmission and Distribution Company; The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority; the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development; the Environmental Management Agency, and; the Zimbabwe National Water .The outcomes of these meetings were very useful in establishing the following:

• The state of development of the project;

•  Action to be taken next;

• Identification of the roles that will be played by each stake holders;

• Regulatory requirements regarding a microgrid project of this nature and the environmental requirements, and;

• Financial support that the Ministry of Finance will provide.

The team further travelled for four hours to inspect the site of the water fall, appreciate the quantity of water flow and the water fall head which are basic requirements for the amount of energy to be generated. They also inspected the site for the erection of the power plant and had the chance to meet with the project beneficiaries and establish how their need for electricity.

The outcome of the mission came was on clear action to be taken next in order to develop and implement the Nyadiri microhydro project.