Zimbabwe’s US$650 million floating solar power project on Lake Kariba is moving towards implementation, with the planned 600-megawatt development set to add to generation capacity as the country seeks to strengthen electricity supply for industry, including mining and mineral processing. Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The project, being developed by GreenGrid Energy Private Limited, formerly Sunspire, will supply all its electricity to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, under an arrangement that makes the utility the sole off-taker.
Information Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said foundational engineering and resource mobilisation for detailed designs were under way following the completion of key preparatory and regulatory work.
“The project is valued at US$650m and entails a partnership between ZETDC, which will be the sole off-taker of the power to be generated, and GreenGrid Energy Private Limited (formerly Sunspire) as the developer of the project,” Dr Soda said at a post-Cabinet briefing.
“The project is now preparing for the implementation phase, with the traditional groundbreaking ceremony having been conducted.”
Cabinet said grid and technical studies, land surveys, environmental impact assessments and regulatory licensing had been completed. The power purchase agreement and transmission connection agreements were signed in 2025, while technical, regulatory and preparatory work was completed in July 2026.
The development comes as Zimbabwe seeks to expand mineral beneficiation, with investment in lithium processing and other mining projects increasing the importance of reliable electricity supply. Power interruptions can limit plant utilisation and disrupt production, making additional generation capacity relevant to the sector’s expansion plans.
The recently concluded lithium media tour organised by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe highlighted electricity challenges facing processing operations, where supply interruptions have affected production capacity.
While the Kariba project is not specifically allocated to mines, additional generation could help strengthen the national electricity supply on which mining and beneficiation operations depend.
At full capacity, the plant is expected to provide electricity for about three million people and create 1,000 direct jobs in Kariba.
The project is also intended to diversify Zimbabwe’s generation mix and reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in hydropower output as changing water availability affects conventional hydroelectric generation.
Cabinet said the Government would maintain coordinated oversight to ensure the development is completed on schedule.
The project’s contribution to mining and the wider economy will depend on implementation, grid integration and delivery of the planned 600MW capacity.
