Oscar J Jeke- Zim Now Reporter
Residents of Norton are resisting a proposal by Chinese-owned tile manufacturer Sunny Yi Feng to build a 210-megawatt coal-fired thermal power station, citing environmental and health risks.
The town, located just outside Harare, has seen growing opposition as concerns mount over potential air and water pollution.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority recently announced that Sunny Yi Feng had applied to install a 20MW solar plant at its Norton facility to supplement power shortages.
However, the company argues that solar alone cannot meet its energy demands and is pursuing coal as a more reliable alternative.
A consultant’s report commissioned by the company revealed widespread community opposition. Residents raised alarms over harmful emissions from coal combustion, fearing pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter could increase cases of respiratory illnesses, pneumoconiosis, and cancer.
Additionally, they worry about potential water contamination affecting nearby major reservoirs, including Lake Chivero and Darwendale Dam.
Environmentalists and conservationists have joined the resistance. Sunny Yi Feng is already facing objections to its coal mining application in Hwange’s protected Sinamatella area, where the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Speaker of Parliament, and resident associations have voiced disapproval.
Now, the company's plan to use coal in Norton has sparked another wave of protests.
In response, Sunny Yi Feng insists it will implement emission control systems, dust filters, and repurpose fly ash—a major coal byproduct—for cement manufacturing to reduce environmental harm. The company maintains that coal is necessary due to limited space for large-scale solar power generation, claiming a 210MW solar plant would require 1,000 hectares, while only 29 hectares are available for the project.
“Coal-fired generation provides stable and continuous power, unlike intermittent solar and wind energy,” the company stated.
Despite these assurances, many Norton residents remain unconvinced. Local activist groups have called for alternative energy solutions that prioritize public health and environmental protection.
“Norton doesn’t need more pollution. We want clean, sustainable development that won’t harm our children’s future,” said one concerned resident.
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