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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at integrating renewable energy into Zimbabwe’s small-scale mining sector — a move poised to enhance operational sustainability and economic resilience for a critical yet often overlooked segment of the industry, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The revelation was made by a UNDP representative during the launch of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO)’s Mine to Market: Critical Minerals situational report. While acknowledging the energy-intensive nature of mining, the representative highlighted a significant disparity in how different players in the sector are adapting.
“As my colleague indicated, we do have an exciting project that we are undertaking. Our focus is on the renewable energy side,” the UNDP official stated. “We hold that the mining sector is quite energy-intensive. And from what I’ve understood, it’s mostly our large-scale mining companies that are intervening or exploring opportunities for renewable energy. But what about our small-scale miners? We do have them. They are operational.”
This question underscores a critical gap in Zimbabwe’s mining landscape. While large corporations have the capital and capacity to invest in solar and other renewable sources to mitigate persistent national grid power shortages, artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) are often left relying on expensive, polluting, and unreliable diesel generators. This not only cuts into their already thin profit margins but also exacerbates the environmental footprint of their operations.
To address this imbalance, the UNDP, in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, is launching a targeted pilot project.
“Together with the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Energy, we are trying to pilot the use of renewable energy among our small-scale miners,” the representative explained.
The pilot project represents a strategic intervention with far-reaching implications. For the small-scale miners — particularly those in the lithium and other critical mineral sectors — access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy could be transformative. It would lower operational costs, increase productivity, and potentially improve safety standards. Furthermore, by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the initiative aligns with global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, which are increasingly important for accessing international markets.
The official emphasised the experimental nature of the project, stating, “It is a pilot, so we do look forward to seeing how that goes.” This cautious optimism reflects the need to develop models that are technically feasible, economically viable, and scalable within the unique context of Zimbabwe’s ASM sector.
The success of this pilot could have significant ripple effects. “We’ll be excited to share the results, both for your capability and upscaling,” the representative added, indicating that the findings are intended to inform future policy and attract further investment for broader implementation.
The initiative was welcomed at the launch as a crucial step towards a more inclusive and sustainable mining value chain. By directly empowering small-scale miners with the tools for cleaner production, the project not only addresses an immediate operational challenge but also strengthens their capacity to participate meaningfully and responsibly in the global rush for critical minerals. As Zimbabwe positions itself as a key player in the green energy transition, ensuring its own mining practices become more sustainable is imperative — and this UNDP-led pilot marks a significant stride in that direction.
