Zimbabwe’s new energy framework is set to reshape the mining sector by unlocking captive power generation and reducing reliance on the national grid.
Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved a new energy governance framework that could transform power access for the country’s mining sector, one of the most energy-intensive industries. At the heart of the reforms is the formalisation of captive power generation, a growing trend among mines seeking to reduce reliance on an unreliable national grid, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
In response to persistent grid shortfalls, several mining houses are expanding their own power capacity. Zimplats has commissioned a 35 MW solar plant at its Selous Metallurgical Complex, with a further 45 MW under construction as part of a long-term 185 MW target. Caledonia Mining’s Blanket Mine now runs a 12.2 MW solar facility, reducing reliance on grid and diesel power. Smaller operations, including Turk Mine and Dinson Iron & Steel, have also invested in captive generation, reflecting a broader sector trend toward self-supply in the face of unreliable electricity.
Given this, the new Own-Consumption Licensing Regulations 2026 now formalise this growing segment, providing a legal framework and regulatory clarity for businesses generating electricity for self-use. The rules reduce financing and insurance risks for large-scale self-generation projects, ensuring that mines can expand their power capacity without legal uncertainty.
The regulations also address other energy challenges that have long constrained mining operations.
The Energy Source Designation Notice 2026 clarifies classifications for solar, hydro, thermal, gas, and grid electricity, giving mines certainty when deploying hybrid or off-grid systems. The Solar Products and Installation Regulations 2026 set minimum quality and installation standards, protecting investments against substandard panels, inverters, and poorly executed installations.
Efficiency and cost management are tackled under the Energy Management Regulations 2026, which require large consumers, including mines, to monitor, report, and systematically reduce energy usage.
For years, the Chamber of Mines has engaged ZESA to secure prioritised supply, highlighting the critical need for formal energy management rules to reduce downtime and generator costs.
Meanwhile, the Backbone Infrastructure Provision Regulations 2026 open the sector to private participation in high-voltage transmission infrastructure, allowing mining companies to invest in substations and lines to secure a more reliable electricity supply.
Other instruments, including electricity export controls and EV charging station safety regulations, are part of the broader reform but have limited direct impact on mining operations.
For Zimbabwe’s mining sector, where electricity costs and supply reliability have long constrained production, the new framework provides both opportunities and responsibilities. Mines that invest in quality self-generation, comply with energy management rules, and explore private infrastructure partnerships can cut costs, reduce downtime, and align operations with emerging ESG standards.
The framework’s success will depend on enforcement by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, the Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development.
