Freedom Mashava, Visuals Editor 
ENERGY minister, Zhemu Soda, says the government is in the process of formulating an electric-vehicles (e-vehicle) policy as part of its efforts to achieve universal access to sustainable and modern energy in Zimbabwe by 2030.
Zhemu Soda, Energy Minister
“The e-vehicles policy is currently being formulated and has a bearing on the overall performance of the Petroleum sub-sector when that is finally implemented,” Soda said while announcing a nine-member board of the state-owned petroleum products retailer, Petrotrade in Harare last week.
Under the National Development Strategy Zimbabwe envisages to produce 1100MW of renewable electricity through renewables.
“All these efforts will ensure energy security of the country, reduction of emissions and improving the balance of trade” he added.
Soda said the board was long overdue and expected it to hit the ground running.
“The appointment of the Petrotrade board was long overdue and the company has been operating without a board of directors for the past five years. I am glad this has now come to an end as this was negatively affecting the management of the company. This will be the third board of directors since the company’s formation in 2011. The new board has a critical task of rectifying a number of matters which couldn’t be executed due to the absence of a board, and would be expected to hit the ground running”.
According to the Global Electric Vehicle Outlook 2021 the market is on a strong growth trajectory.
The EV market showed growth of over 40 percent during 2020 with a record 3 million EVs registered, despite the pandemic-related worldwide downturn in car sales in which global car sales dropped 16 percent.
Europe led the new registrations with 1,4 million EVs followed by China with 1,2 million EVs and the United States with 295 000 EVs.
EV markets could be significantly larger if governments accelerate efforts to reach climate goals.
Meanwhile the Petrotrade board will be chaired by Tinomudaishe Chinyoka. He will be deputized by Zanele Dube while the other board members are energy expert, founder and managing director of Oxygen Africa Simbarashe Mhuriro, Gladys Mumhure, Ferida Matambo, Getrude Marabada, Godfrey Ncube, Dakarai Mukuku and Lilian Timveos.
newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw
