Hydro· IPP / BOO

Mini-Hydro Portfolio

150 MW across inland water bodies

150 MW of aggregated mini-hydro potential across Zimbabwe's inland water bodies — a portfolio play for distributed renewable IPPs.

Overview

Beyond the Zambezi's 5 GW of large hydro, Zimbabwe's inland dams and rivers offer approximately 150 MW of mini-hydro capacity. These plants are well suited to distributed IPP portfolios that supply local grids, agricultural estates and mining operations.

Investment Opportunity

Aggregate mini-hydro sites into a portfolio under IPP, BOO or BOOT structures. Sell power to ZETDC on cost-reflective tariffs approved by ZERA, or supply embedded off-takers such as commercial farms and mines under direct PPAs.

Independent Power Producer (IPP)BOOBOOTPublic Private Partnership (PPP)

Market Opportunity

Zimbabwe's electricity demand.

Demand-supply gap

~1,100 MW

Between 2,600 MW built supply and ~1,500 MW average generation.

Mining sector demand

2,000 MW by 2025

Intensive-energy users led by mining houses and manufacturers.

Industrial capacity

60% utilisation

Manufacturing constrained by power availability.

Agricultural capacity

50% utilisation

Irrigation and agro-processing require reliable base load.

Corporate off-takers

100+ intensive users

Mining and manufacturing companies open to direct PPAs.

Why Invest

Why Zimbabwe's energy market.

150 MW of aggregated mini-hydro potential.

Distributed generation supports rural electrification and industrial uptime.

Long asset life and low operating cost.

Duty-free importation of generating equipment.

Tax holidays available under BOT and BOOT models.

Infrastructure & Resource Base

Existing grid and generation potential.

Built Supply

2,600 MW installed capacity

Current Generation

~1,500 MW average

2030 Demand

>4,000 MW required (Vision 2030)

Solar Potential

109 GW · among Africa's highest irradiation

Wind Potential

39 GW

Hydro (Zambezi)

5 GW

Mini-Hydro

150 MW across inland water bodies

Geothermal

50 MW

Energy Imports

Balance imported from ESKOM (South Africa), HCB & EDM (Mozambique), ZESCO (Zambia)

IPP Tariff Range

USD 0.06 – 0.12 / kWh to ZETDC · unregulated for private off-takers

Investment Incentives

Fiscal and regulatory incentives.

Tax holidays for BOT and BOOT deals

100% repatriation of profits

Duty-free importation of selected Renewable Energy Technologies

Duty-free importation of energy-generating equipment

Government guarantees for non-expropriation

Newly updated Renewable Energy Policy (2023) and gazetted Carbon Credit Policy (2023)

Approval Process

The IPP investment pathway.

ZIDA's One Stop Investment Services Centre (OSISC) handholds investors through onboarding, establishment and aftercare.

01
Land Acquisition
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water & Rural Development; Ministry of Local Government & Public Works; or private landowner
02
Company Registration
Registrar of Companies
03
Business Plan & Feasibility Study
Investor
04
Grid Impact Assessment (GIA)
ZETDC
05
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Management Agency (EMA)
06
Investment Licence
ZIDA
07
Generation Licence
ZERA
08
Power Purchase Agreement & Tariff
ZETDC or private off-takers

Register interest in Mini-Hydro Portfolio.

Submit your details to receive the full information pack and arrange an introduction with power sector counterparts, ZETDC and ZERA. Every enquiry is reviewed personally by the Invest Zimbabwe team.

Contact Invest Zimbabwe

investors@investzimbabwe.co

Response time

Within one business day

For institutional & IPP investors

Infrastructure funds, utilities, DFIs and sovereign wealth