Almot Maqolo
SANY Equipment Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of SANY Southern Africa and part of SANY Global, expects its market share in Zimbabwe to climb to 30 percent or more, driven by the surging demand for the company’s new electric equipment.
SANY recently unveiled three electric models in Harare: a tractor truck, a dump truck, and a front-end loader. These machines are engineered to meet the demands of modern mining, offering reduced operational costs, enhanced efficiency, and greater sustainability.
“We are confident to say from the demands of wheel loaders and tippers, we will take up to 30 percent of the market share or even more because people see it has advantages and saves a lot,” Pillar Wang, SANY Equipment Zimbabwe general manager, told the Daily News.
The company highlights significant cost savings with its electric models. For instance, the 6-tonne electric wheel loader costs US$150 000, which is 1.8 times lower than a comparable diesel model.
These electric machines can be fully charged in 45 to 60 minutes, operate for seven to nine hours, and save users up to US$45 000 in costs compared to their diesel counterparts.
Traditionally a manufacturer of diesel fleets, SANY Equipment Zimbabwe is now significantly increasing its investment in green energy vehicles, having already reduced diesel tractor and tipper production by nearly 60 percent.
“We just delivered our first batch of eight-unit electrical wheel loaders in Beitbridge and 80-unit electric tippers also in Beitbridge,” Wang added.
“We just assigned an 80-unit semitractor, also an electrical one. I am confident to say by the end of this month, we will have at least 200 pieces of electrical product running in the country.”
This shift comes as Zimbabwe’s overall diesel consumption continues to rise. According to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, diesel consumption increased by 5,38 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching 1,12 billion litres, up from 1,07 billion litres. Over the past 15 years, the country has seen more than a threefold increase in fuel demand.