In Norton, the battle between green energy and coal is playing out near one of Southern Africa’s largest tile manufacturing plants.
Sunny Yi Feng produces over 35,000 square meters of tiles daily for both local and export markets. The company also makes 40,000 pieces of kitchenware each day. However, as it looks to expand, it faces a major hurdle: Zimbabwe’s unreliable power supply. To supplement erratic electricity from ZESA, the company is pushing for more energy solutions—but not without controversy.
Earlier this month, energy regulator ZERA announced that Sunny Yi Feng had applied to install a 20MW solar plant at its factory. But solar alone won’t meet the company’s energy demands. It also plans to build a 210MW thermal power station, a move that has sparked opposition from locals.
The controversy extends beyond Norton. Sunny Yi Feng is already facing resistance to its application to mine coal in the reserved Sinamatella area of Hwange. The National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has formally opposed the proposal. Now, the company faces another battle—this time closer to home, where it plans to use the coal.
A report by a consultant hired by Sunny Yi Feng to consult the community said “residents raised concerns about air pollution from coal combustion, specifically emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, which could increase cases of pneumoconiosis, respiratory illnesses, and cancer”. They are also worried by “potential water pollution affecting Lake Chivero, Darwendale Dam, and surrounding water bodies.”
Sunny Yi Feng, through its energy arm Sunny Jin Long Energy, insists it has the technology to mitigate these risks. The company says it will use emission control systems, dust filters, and repurpose fly ash—a major coal byproduct—for cement manufacturing.
Still, residents question why the company is going for coal instead of renewable energy. Sunny Yi Feng argues that it doesn’t have the space for a solar plant of the required scale.
Says Sunny Yi Feng: “Generating 210MW through solar would require approximately 1,000 hectares, whereas only 29 hectares are available for the project. Hydropower is not feasible due to insufficient water resources in the region. Coal-fired generation provides stable and continuous power, unlike intermittent solar and wind energy.”
To make tiles, Sunny Yi Feng uses 18 different types of rough clay, mined from quarries in areas such as Mazowe and Chakari and milled at the Norton factory. The plant has 2,400kva power transformers and 80 500kW diesel generators.
