The Chinese government yesterday donated 180 solar water heaters
to the Zimbabwe Republic Police as part of a project to introduce
China's experience and technology in solar energy development to
the solar energy-rich southern African country.
The pilot project, of which the first phase worth 1.5 million
yuan (US$187,500) was completed in 1998, has brought great changes
to the life of 110 households, said Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Zhang Xianyi at the handover ceremony for completion of the second
phase.
Large-scale use of solar water heaters can help reduce
Zimbabwe's electricity imports and peak demand during the winter
season, Zimbabwe's Energy and Power Development Minister Mike
Nyambuya said at the ceremony in Harare.
Nyambuya said uptake of renewable energy technologies in
Zimbabwe was being hampered by high initial investment costs, lack
of knowledge about benefits to be accrued and the prevailing
macro-economic environment.
The aim of the pilot project is to evaluate the performance of
the Chinese-made solar heaters under local conditions, to train
local technicians in installation and maintenance, to demonstrate
the green energy technology and to promote commercial and
industrial cooperation in this field, he said.?
(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2006)
