The 136 MW Itimpi II solar power plant is Zambia’s largest operational solar project to date. Elsewhere in the country, an investment agreement has been signed to add 250 MW of solar energy to the 100 MW solar power plant in Nambala.
Zambian power generation company Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has powered the 136 MW Itimpi II solar power plant, which is billed as the country’s largest operational solar facility to date.
Located in Kitwe in the north Zambiathe $125.8 million project was funded by CEC’s $200 million Green Bond. A statement published by the company said that by successfully using the bond, it “proved that local capital markets can independently finance mega-projects without relying on sovereign debt.” The statement adds that it will manage the remaining green bond funds towards the deployment of battery energy storage systems.
Built on approximately 170 hectares of land, the Itimpi II project took 14 months to build, created 2,568 jobs of which more than 95% were owned by Zambians and contracted 15 local companies and eight local consultants. More than 100 jobs have been made permanent.
CEC Chief Executive Officer, Owen Silavwe, said the project was driven by the urgent need to address the power shortage and reflects growing confidence in government policies. He added that the project will provide reliable supply to the industry, especially the mining sector.
CEC says it aims to have more than 500 MW of solar power generation capacity by 2027, compared to 230 MW after the commissioning of the Itimpi II project.
Elsewhere in Zambia, the Zambian Development Agency and Sunshare Energy Limited have signed a US$246 million investment promotion and protection agreement for the second phase of the Nambala solar power plant in Mumbwa, located in the country’s Central Province.
Image: Zambia Development Agency
The second phase, to add a total of 250 MW, follows the development of a 100 MW solar power plant in the first phase. The total investment in the project in both phases now amounts to $300 million.
ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa noted that government reforms have significantly shortened approval times for energy projects, creating a more investor-friendly environment.
Last month, London-based independent energy producer Globeleq announced it was working on one 250 MW solar energy plus a 150MW/600MWh battery energy storage system, billed as Zambia’s largest hybrid renewable energy project.
Other notable projects in development include the 100MW Chipata West site, which broke ground last August, as part of the Zambian government’s target to deploy 1 GW of solar power across ten sites.
The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has identified 977.2 MW of operational solar power in Zambia to date, according to figures available on its projects database.
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