Zimbabwe Working To Promote Nuclear Power

The Minister of Energy, Advocate Fortune Chasi has said plans are underway to establish the National Integrated Energy Resource Plan, a sustainable energy policy that among other critical issues, will promote greater use of renewable sources including nuclear power.

Chasi made the remarks in Parliament on Wednesday where he revealed that Zimbabwe is getting assistance from the World Bank and the African Development Bank to develop the policy. He said:

We are working on a National Integrated Energy Resource Plan. We had a false start with regards to this process and we are now working with development agencies like the World Bank and the African Development Bank who are helping us to come up with the policy.

I am not able at this moment in time to precisely say when this work will be concluded but all of us who are involved in this matter understand the urgency of the matter and I am very hopeful that by year-end we will have our first draft.

The announcement comes when Zimbabwe has an acute power crisis that has stifled anticipated and much-needed economic growth.

The country currently generates about half of its electricity from coal, a non-renewable resource, with a number of thermal projects lined up for implementation. 

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