Zimplats Set to Commission 35MW Solar Plant
Zimbabwe’s largest platinum group metals (PGM) producer, Zimplats, is gearing up to commission its 35MW solar power plant in the first quarter of the group’s 2025 financial year, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Patricia Rwafa
The 35MW solar plant marks the initial phase of Zimplats’ ambitious plan to develop a total of 185MW of solar capacity, in alignment with the company’s commitment to sustainable energy use.
According to Zimplats’ fourth-quarter financial report for the 2024 fiscal year, the company has already invested US$36 million in the 35MW solar project, just shy of the US$37 million budgeted for the initiative.
This project represents the first of four phases that will ultimately expand Zimplats’ solar power generation capacity to an impressive 185MW.
“US$36 million has been spent on the implementation of the 35MW solar plant project against a budget of US$37 million. The solar plant will be commissioned in the first quarter of FY2025,” the Zimplats report reads in part.
The commissioning of the 35MW solar plant comes at a crucial time for Zimbabwe’s energy sector, where electricity demand from the mining industry has surged to 2,600MW—far exceeding the 1,200MW currently produced by the national grid.
The situation has been exacerbated by issues with Unit 8 of the Hwange Units 7 and 8 project, which cost $1.5 billion but is now producing less than 700MW. This shortfall has intensified the country’s power crisis, driving companies like Zimplats to pursue self-sufficient power solutions to avoid operational disruptions due to severe power cuts.
The construction of the 35MW solar plant is currently 86% complete and follows the earlier success of Caledonia’s 12MW solar plant, which now meets approximately 30% of that company’s power demand.
The successful commissioning of the 35MW solar plant in early 2025 will be a significant milestone for both Zimplats and the broader Zimbabwean energy landscape. By leading the way in sustainable and self-reliant energy solutions, Zimplats is poised to inspire other industries to adopt similar strategies, contributing to the long-term resilience and prosperity of Zimbabwe’s economy.
In addition to its solar power initiatives, Zimplats has also made strides in improving its water use practices. The company reported a decrease in the use of recycled water, from 44% to 39% in FY2024, due to below-normal rainfall associated with the El Niño-induced drought. To augment water supplies, Zimplats increased the volume of water abstracted from dams and underground sources by 15% compared to the previous reporting period.
Furthermore, Zimplats has continued its commitment to sustainability by rehabilitating its open-pit working areas, with 9.1 hectares of land restored during the period, consistent with previous efforts. Additionally, a 1.2-hectare area of the tailings storage facilities was re-vegetated as part of the company’s ongoing concurrent rehabilitation program.