Zimbabwe’s drive to expand mining and process more minerals locally is running into a familiar obstacle – not enough electricity.
The country’s mining sector will need more than 1,500MW of power within the next 12 months, up from the current consumption of 1,000MW, as investment in new mines and mineral processing accelerates, according to the Chamber of Mines.
“The industry currently consumes approximately 1,000MW. That is more than half of what is produced locally as electricity. However, with the ongoing expansion activities and new beneficiation facilities, the energy demand is set to surge to more than 1,500 megawatts in the next 12 months,” Chamber CEO Isaac Kwesu told the Mine Entra conference in Bulawayo.
The demand is being driven by growth in gold, lithium, platinum, chrome, and iron and steel, at a time Government is pushing miners to process minerals locally. However, electricity supply is struggling to keep pace.
ZESA acting CEO Cletus Nyachowe recently told Parliament that Zimbabwe has 2,962MW of installed capacity, comprising 1,050MW from Kariba, 1,680MW from coal-fired stations, and 232MW from small hydro, bagasse and solar independent power producers. However, ageing equipment, maintenance and water shortages mean much of that capacity is unavailable. Zimbabwe currently generates around 1,600MW, well below peak national demand of more than 2,200MW. History
To reduce pressure on the grid, Government is increasingly encouraging mining companies to generate their own electricity. It has especially targeted ferrochrome producers, whose plants collectively use up over 300MW.
Private investors are building 635MW of new generation capacity, while another 730MW of projects have secured financing, Nyachowe said. Most of the new capacity is coal-fired.
Chinese steel producer Zhongjin Heli has commissioned the first 100MW phase of its captive power plant and is building a further 135MW, while Sunny Jinlong is building a 90MW thermal power station near Norton.
Mining companies are investing in their own power. Zimplats has commissioned a 35MW solar plant at Selous and is building another 45MW phase that will lift its solar capacity to 80MW, with a long-term target of 185MW.
Caledonia Mining’s Blanket Mine operates a 12.2MW solar plant that supplies about a fifth of the mine’s electricity needs, while Padenga’s Eureka Mine has just fired up a 5.4MW solar plant.
Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe is also developing a 70MW power project to support its operations, which now include a new US$400 million lithium sulphate plant. – (NewZWire)
