1. New Markets- Stories from the Frontier at the GOGLA AGM
CASE STUDY ZIMBABWE BY
WILLIAM PONELA
(ZONFUL ENERGY)

2. Country Selection Government Policy- duty free, tax holidays etc
Location – best sun radiation
Market – over 80% of the population is off grid. High
population growth

3. Market Risk Product Dumping –ex china products
Free handouts – from NGOS

4. Experience
High demands of products – solar home systems and irrigation
Market resistance in other sectors – due to previous experience

5. Success Stories
Overwhelming Acceptance of solar products – rural councils
Government policy support – Government has come out with a policy to support renewable energy sector

6. Challenges
Shortage of working capital – solar products are expensive for both consumers and distributors
Advance payment requirement – manufactures require cash upfront for their product

7. Unanticipated Market Barrier
Franchising – some of the companies who sell the products sell them for high prices
Price collision from manufacturers – some manufacturers collide when charging high prices on solar products e.g. china

8. Unanticipated market Opportunity
Zimbabwe has got 4 million skilled people in diaspora – these people are investing back home in solar home systems and solar irrigation systems. Its a market worth approximately 2 billion united states dollars
High Population of peri urban and rural settlers who are off grid – due to high shortage of electricity and the challenges the grid is facing. No new grid connections are being done

9. The End