By Byron Mutingwende
Amalgamated Regional Trade (ART) subsidiary Chloride Zimbabwe has launched a new solar battery under Exide that is set to meet the energy needs of its different customers in rural, urban, small and big businesses.
Officiating at the launch event, Mike Bimha, the minister of industry and commerce said the innovation was a timely intervention to the energy needs of the country where businesses were operating under a difficult environment characterized by lack of access to affordable sources of income, depressed demand, inconsistent supply of basic utilities and stiff competition from foreign products.
“Given such a harsh business environment, we congratulate Chloride Zimbabwe for responding to the energy needs of the country in such an innovative manner,” Bimha said.
Bimha said the innovation was in line with the Battery Manufacturers Association’s Incubation Strategy which seeks to provide responsive and innovative energy solutions that meet customer needs in a sustainable manner.
“This also augurs well with the United Nations’ Sustainable Energy for All initiative launched in 2012 with the aim of improving the lives of poor people, increasing share of renewable energy sources around the world and improving energy efficiency,” Bimha said.
He pledged government commitment to working with different stakeholders interested in enhancing quality of lives through the provision of energy solutions raising awareness on approaches that benefit the poorest in society.
Chloride Zimbabwe has bought new machinery to grow its battery business and increase its range of products to meet the growing local and regional demand.
The company is among the very few operating at above 60 percent capacity utilization at a time when most are operating at below 40 percent capacity according to the recent Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries 2014 survey.
Over and above that, Chloride is also recycling scrap batteries and beneficiating them in conformity with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET) and the Industrial Development Policy which places emphasis on revival of the manufacturing sector through value addition, beneficiation and technological upgrade.
Bimha bemoaned the fact that energy access remains one area where there is global inequality.
“Around 40 percent (3 billion) of the world’s population lack the technologies to make cooking fuels clean, safe and efficient. Action is therefore needed to realize and deliver long-term solutions to the energy needs of the people and today we are here to witness such an initiative,” he said.
ART Corporation chairman, Dr. Passmore Matupire said the innovation would go a long way in rejuvenating the manufacturing sector by meeting the needs of consumers who often have to endure power black outs and added that the solar batteries were a renewable, accessible and affordable back up solution to their needs.
He appealed to government to consider deferent of Value Added Tax (VAT) on capital expenditure to allow Chloride Zimbabwe to pay it after the commissioning of its new machinery, rather than on or before the arrival of the machines.
