Econet Wireless Zimbabwe continues to invest in renewable energy solutions and green technologies to power its business, to reduce green house gas (GHG) emissions and enhance the sustainability of its operations. The company said global warming was increasingly negatively impacting the telecommunications industry, driving up operational costs through higher energy demand for cooling infrastructure.
“The impacts of global warming contribute to rising temperatures, which, in turn, increase the energy demand for cooling telecommunications equipment. 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,” Econet said in its 2025 annual report.
To counter the effects, Econet has rolled out a multi-pronged energy strategy centred on renewable energy integration, efficiency upgrades and sustainability-aligned supply chain management.
“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.
“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 toreduce GHG emissions,” the company said.
So far, Econet has deployed 380 solar-powered sites, producing 3 315 815 kWh of power and avoiding an estimated 3,249 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions from solar PV generation.
“In addition to solar integration, we are implementing energy-efficient technologies and best practices to optimise power consumption,” the company added.
In its financial year (FY25), Econet revealed that total annual energy consumption stood at 872 970 976 megajoules (MJ).
Diesel fuel dominated the energy mix at 82,7 percent, followed by electricity at 16,4 percent, petrol at 0,8 percent and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at 0,02 percent.
“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 reduceour environmental impact,” Econet said.
As part of its climate action roadmap, the business has set ambitious carbon reduction targets.
“We have set ambitious targets, aiming to reduce our carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
“The transition to renewable energy is evident, with 282 sites and 8 offices now powered by solar energy. Battery upgrades have been completed at 467 sites to enhance energy efficiency.
“The business is also actively engaged in disaster recovery efforts, community resilience projects and infrastructure restoration programmes, such as its involvement in road reconstruction following Cyclone Idai,” Econet said.
The telecoms giant said its renewable energy programme not only reduces environmental impact but also contributes to national efforts to expand clean energy adoption and climate resilience.
