The Minister of State for Special Agricultural and Related projects, Davis Marapira (centre) being led on a tour of the Schweppes 500 kilowatts solar plant in Beitbridge by the company’s managing director Mr Charles Msipa (right) recently. — Picture by Thupeyo Muleya

SCHWEPPES Zimbabwe Limited has commissioned a 500 kilowatts ground-mounted solar plant as it embraces the use of renewable energy to boost production at its Beitbridge Juice Plant.

The company’s managing director, Mr Charles Msipa, said they were now finalising an agreement with the Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to be able to feed power into the national grid.

He was speaking during an interview on the sidelines of a tour of citrus projects in Beitbridge by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, on Friday.

“We have commissioned a ground-mounted solar plant at the Beitbridge Juice Plant site that is able to supply 500 kilowatts of energy. It is adequate to support this plant’s requirements,” said Mr Msipa.

“This plant runs from June to September, during the citrus season and offseason. The solar plant will be able to feed the power into the national electricity grid.

“It has been fully commissioned and running. What is outstanding is to finalise net metering with the ZETDC, so that we can get credit for the power that we supply into the main grid.”

The Schweppes executive said the company was also working on setting up a citrus plantation at Zhovhe Dam so that it can be able supply throughput to the Beitbridge Juice Plant.

Currently, local citrus farmers are able to supply 40 percent of the required 40 000 tonnes of citrus, which the plant can process annually.

Mr Msipa said so far, they have completed the feasibility studies and surveys on the ground.

“We have also completed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and we are now at a stage where we are seeking a formal lease agreement with the Government, after which we can proceed to fundraise and get the project started,” he said.

“Our target is to start the project towards the end of this year.”

The company is also exploring ways of expanding its line of products hence Mr Msipa said the Beitbridge plant was designed to process mainly citrus fruits and that they will have to make changes so that they may be able to process other types of fruits including the indigenous types.

Mr Msipa said it was very critical for them to use the Beitbridge processing plant to full capacity.

“We are always looking for ways that can utilise the capacity of this plant. You will note that in April, every year, we process grapefruit and lemons, but by far the biggest fruits processed are oranges, but we are always alive to new opportunities,” he said.

As part of their diversification plans, Mr Msipa said they also have another plant in Norton, which processes tomatoes and guavas into various products. — @tupeyo