Zimbabwe has taken a major step towards modernising household energy supply following the commencement of construction of the country’s first suburban piped gas distribution network at Southview Park residential estate in Harare South, a project expected to provide safer, cleaner and more affordable cooking energy to households.
The pioneering project, is being developed by Southview Energy Company, a joint venture between consulting contractor Amara Energy Company and Fidelity Life Assurance, and is expected to transform the way residents access domestic cooking gas by delivering it directly to homes through an underground pipeline network.
Speaking on the project, a Southview Energy Company representative said the initiative was aimed at making clean energy accessible to households across different income levels while reducing the inconvenience and costs associated with conventional liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.
“This is more than a gas project; it is about transforming the way Zimbabwean families access energy. Our objective is to provide a convenient, safe and affordable energy solution that removes the burden of purchasing expensive gas cylinders while giving consumers greater control over their household energy expenditure,” he said.
The company said the network would be supported by prepaid smart-metering technology, enabling residents to monitor their gas consumption in real time and purchase only the amount of gas they require.
“Residents will no longer need to wait until they have enough money to refill an entire gas cylinder. With our prepaid system, households can top up from as little as US$1 using mobile payment platforms, making clean cooking energy accessible to families across different income levels,” the representative said.
Once completed, the system will distribute gas directly into homes through underground pipelines, eliminating the need for residents to transport and store portable LPG cylinders. Developers say the infrastructure is expected to improve safety by reducing the risks associated with handling gas cylinders while ensuring uninterrupted access to cooking fuel.
The project is also expected to ease pressure on electricity demand by providing households with an alternative source of energy for cooking, in line with Zimbabwe’s efforts to diversify its energy mix and promote cleaner, more sustainable sources of power.
Energy experts have welcomed the initiative, describing piped gas infrastructure as a significant milestone in strengthening urban energy security and supporting the country’s transition towards low-carbon energy solutions.
They noted that similar systems are widely used in many parts of the world because they improve convenience, enhance safety and lower long-term household energy costs, while reducing reliance on traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal.
Developers said the Southview Park project would serve as a pilot for the rollout of similar piped gas networks in other residential suburbs should the initiative prove successful.
Meanwhile, the project is expected to contribute to Zimbabwe’s broader sustainable development and energy transition objectives.
