- The company is set to commission a 35MW solar power plant in Q1 2025, the first phase of a larger 185MW renewable energy project
- Rehabilitated 9.1 hectares of open pit working areas, re-vegetated 1.2 hectares of the tailings storage facilities
- CO2 emissions decreased by 60% to 0.021 tonnes per tonne of ore milled in FY24
Harare - In a significant stride towards energy security and sustainability, Zimplats, the largest corporate entity in Zimbabwe, is set to commission its groundbreaking 35MW solar power plant in the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year.
This project marks the first phase of an ambitious four-phase plan that will ultimately increase the total solar power generation capacity to an impressive 185MW.
The commissioning of the 35MW solar plant will come at a critical time for Zimbabwe's energy sector where mining electricity demand has soared to 2,600MW, far exceeding the 1,200MW produced by the national grid.
Additionally, the Hwange Units 7 and 8 power project, valued at US$1.5 billion, is producing less than 700MW after a fault occurred in Unit 8 during the weekend, further straining the country's energy supply.
The construction of the 35MW solar plant, which is currently 86% complete, follows the earlier commissioning of Caledonia's 12MW solar plant, which now accounts for approximately 30% of the mining company's power demand.
Zimplats has also made strides in its sustainable water management practices, with the use of recycled water decreasing from 44% to 39% in FY2024 due to below-normal rainfall associated with the El Niño-induced drought.
To augment water supplies, the volume of water abstracted from dams and underground sources increased by 15% compared to the prior reporting period.
In addition, the company has continued its efforts to rehabilitate its open pit working areas, with 9.1 hectares of land being rehabilitated during the period, in line with the previous reporting period. Furthermore, a 1.2-hectare area of the tailings storage facilities was re-vegetated as part of the concurrent rehabilitation program.
The successful commissioning of the 35MW solar plant in the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year will undoubtedly mark a significant milestone for Zimplats and the Zimbabwean energy landscape.
By paving the way for a sustainable and self-reliant energy future, this project has the potential to inspire other industries to follow suit, ultimately contributing to the long-term prosperity and resilience of the Zimbabwean economy.
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