MARGARET CHISANGA
Lusaka
HADASSAH Hart has embarked on a US$65 million solar Energy project to produce 50 megawatts power, which will be supported by a 100-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.
The project kicked off with the signing of a contract between Hadassah Hart Energy, as the project owners, and NORINCO International as the contractor.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lusaka, Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote said Government remains fully supportive of credible private-sector participation in the energy sector.
The minister was represented by Permanent Secretary Arnold Simwaba.
He said the country’s energy needs are significant and meeting them requires not only capital but also competence, integrity and proven execution capability.
“This project represents exactly the kind of progress that Government seeks to encourage.
The project is locally prepared, technically robust and structured to meet international standards of bankability and execution,” he said.
Katambi Bulawayo, who is the co-founder and chairperson of Hadassah Hart, said the project, dubbed Zindzathi, will be based in Kawambwa District, Luapula Province.
Mr Bulawayo highlighted Government’s policy sector reforms and professional and legal guidance from legal experts as having been pivotal in ensuring that the project kicks off.
“Our partnership with NORINCO International brings in global engineering capabilities, construction certainty and execution accountability,” he said.
“We are particularly mindful that energy infrastructure carries long-term consequences.
Decisions taken at each stage will shape performance, reliability and economic impact for decades to come. That is why our focus has been building a project that is technically sound, financially robust and institutionally credible,” he said.
He described the project as a symbol of resilience, underscoring the commitment of the project partners to advancing sustainable energy development.
And Hadassah Hart chief executive officer Hadassah Bulawayo said the firm’s decision to enter the energy space was a deliberate decision driven by experience, conviction and a clear understating of what the country needs.
And senior executive leadership for NORINCO international Di Tingle commended Government for policy reforms and regulations in the energy sector.
“The transparent process and openness to private sector participation are essential for successful infrastructural project delivery,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Mr Simwaba emphasised the importance of private sector participation in the energy sector, noting that the project will contribute to strengthening electricity supply and support socio-economic development in Kawambwa and surrounding areas.
