Zimbabwe Slashes Energy Costs in Bid to Boost Economy

The Zimbabwean government has taken a significant step towards reducing business costs and attracting investment by slashing a range of licenses, levies, and fees in the energy sector. This move is part of a broader effort to modernize regulation and make the country a more competitive destination for capital.

The reforms are a direct response to the need to reduce the cost of doing business and accelerate growth in key energy subsectors, said Information Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere, announcing the measures after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. The review followed extensive consultations with ministries, government agencies, and energy sector players, and forms part of the broader reform package approved by Cabinet in July last year.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority licence application fee has been reduced from US$2,500 to US$2,000, while the solar generation licence fee of US$2,875 has been completely removed. The petroleum import procurement license has been cut by half from US$30,000. In rural areas, the fuel retailing license has been reduced from US$200 to US$150, and the LPG retail license fee is being reduced by 50% from the current US$230.

The government recognizes that energy investment had been largely carried by the state, a position that had become unsustainable due to limited fiscal space. The new fee structure is intended to open the sector to more private investors by lowering barriers and eliminating outdated charges. “Government continues to prioritise reforms that improve the ease of doing business in order to attract and retain investment,” Dr. Muswere said.

The announcement adds to a growing list of business reforms underway across multiple sectors, including sweeping license consolidations and fee cuts in retail, hospitality, and financial services. These broader measures have included merging fragmented shop licenses, eliminating redundant permits, capping SME license fees at US$500, and cutting hotel license fees by 50%. Additional refinements to the new energy fee schedule will be finalised before gazetting once ministries complete the necessary legislative and administrative adjustments.