Harare — Zimbabwe can address its energy shortfalls if it harnesses other forms of power such as solar to complement hydro and thermal electricity which is currently in short supply, experts said last week.

Speaking at an energy crisis workshop in Harare, officials said the country has vast untapped energy reserves which, if explored, could help turnaround the economy and solve the energy problems that have greatly affected business.

A comprehensive energy base, the experts added, would reduce power imports and enable Zimbabwe to channel its resources to other critical areas of national development.

Zesa Holdings managing director for transmission and distribution, Mr Ernest Muchayi said Government and the private sector should engage in serious talk on energy projects as the country was fast running out of power.

He said without a strong energy pool, Zesa would fail to efficiently service its customers thereby affect the general progress of the country.

"For Zesa to deliver and contribute towards national development all other forms of energy should be operational and vibrant," he said.

"It is therefore vital for the country to invest in other power substitutes such as gas and solar to supplement hydro and thermal electricity."

He said with the abundant sunshine in the country, Zimbabwe was doing little to harness solar energy.

"Other countries in Europe where sunshine is very minimal are tapping solar energy while Zimbabwe is not taking advantage of the rich sunlight it receives everyday," he said.

Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre senior official, Mr Onisious Manyere concurred and said investing in other forms of energy such as bio-fuels would provide Zimbabwe with a large pool base from which to draw its energy.

He said bio-fuels were environmentally friendly and renewable, meaning the country would always have sufficient power for its people.

"Investing in bio-fuels will create employment as new industries emerge," he said.

"Farmers will also have new markets for their crops while the country would also greatly reduce energy imports from other regional countries."

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce President Mrs Marah Hativagone said there was need to attract investors into the energy sector.

She said a number of foreign investors had been in the country and done feasibility studies yet nothing concrete had come out of it.

"Attractive incentives for venturing into the energy sectors should be crafted to enable more investment in power generation," she said.

She said unless this was done foreign investors would continue to shun the country and move to other regions where the climate was conducive.

ZNCC organised the breakfast workshop, which was also attended by Energy and Power Development Minister Mike Nyambuya.

The workshop sought to come up with a framework on sustainable energy policy, which is being crafted by the ministry.