Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has reached a further step in the development of Zimbabwes first high-powered green hydrogen power plant, the Middle Sabi Renewstable, by formalising the shared goal to supply the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) in a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
E. D. Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, presided over the signing ceremony for the MoU during the International Renewable Energy Conference in Victoria Falls. It was signed by John Diya, representing the acting managing director of ZETDC, and Nicolas Lecomte, director of HDF Energy for Southern and East Africa.
The MoU creates a framework for the joint technical and administrative work to complete the development of this first green hydrogen power plant investment in Zimbabwe, as well as the commercialisation of its electricity and grid services, through a dedicated power purchase agreement.
The plant will produce green power 24/7 feeding into the grid through the Middle Sabi Substation located 4 km from the project site. The annual electric production will be 178GWh, providing electricity to more than 220,000 inhabitants.
Middle Sabi Renewstable is being developed within the multi-project, multi-technology, multi-investor Chipangayi Renewable Energy Technology Park (RETPark) which has been under development since 2016.
Lecomte commented, “The electricity demand in the country is very high, in part because of the growth in demand by the productive sector, a positive sign for Zimbabwe's future. Our solution, the Renewstable hydrogen power plant, is particularly suitable, not only to supply the necessary electricity, but also the network services to improve the stability and operating conditions of the electrical grid. The signing today is a key step in our engagement with the ZETDC for the project, that demonstrates the commitment of HDF to invest in the development work required to reach a bankable power purchase agreement with the utility. HDF expect to reach financial close on the project and start construction in 2024/2025.”
Laurent Chevalier, French ambassador to Zimbabwe attending the ceremony, declared, “France is strongly committed to addressing the global challenge of climate change and promoting the development of renewable energy, and I am glad to see French expertise in the innovative field of green hydrogen develop its presence in Zimbabwe. This project contributes in a concrete way to strengthening the economic relationship and the partnership between our two countries.”
