Econet Embraces Clean Energy to Cut Emissions and Future-Proof Operation – The Zimbabwe Mail

📅 Published: August 26, 2025

📰 Source: thezimbabwemail_enhanced

Curated by AllZimNews.com

This elevates operational costs and intensifies energy consumption.

Drought conditions, such as those affecting the Kariba Dam, reduce hydroelectricity generation, necessitating greater reliance on diesel generators for backup power, leading to both increased costs and higher GHG emissions,” the company said.

In response, Econet has launched a multi-layered energy strategy, prioritising the integration of solar power, efficiency upgrades, and environmentally aligned supply chain practices.

The company has so far deployed 380 solar-powered network sites, generating over 3. 3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power and avoiding approximately 3,249 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) emissions. “Our management approach includes investing in green technologies and renewable energy solutions, which have created business opportunities and employment.

Our standby diesel generators operate within specified emissions thresholds and do not significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions,” Econet noted. “Furthermore, we have implemented sustainability screening processes for suppliers and partners to ensure alignment with our environmental policies.

A key focus area of our sustainability strategy is transitioning to renewable energy for network operations to reduce GHG emissions. ”
In addition to expanding solar usage, the company is adopting energy-efficient technologies and best practices to optimise its power consumption.

Despite this progress, diesel remains the dominant energy source in its current mix.

For the 2025 financial year, Econet reported total energy use of 872,970,976 megajoules (MJ), with diesel accounting for 82. 7%, electricity 16. 4%, petrol 0. 8%, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) just 0. 02%. “The significant reliance on diesel, which has a higher energy density compared to petrol and LPG, underscores its central role in our operations.

However, this dependency also presents opportunities to explore alternative energy sources and enhance energy efficiency to reduce our environmental impact,” the company stated.

To move away from fossil fuels, Econet has set firm carbon reduction goals—targeting a 30% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2030, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Already, 282 sites and 8 corporate offices are powered by solar, and battery systems have been upgraded at 467 locations to enhance energy performance across the network.

Beyond its technical operations, Econet is actively contributing to climate resilience in communities, supporting disaster recovery, and infrastructure restoration—such as road reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Idai.