Energy company Grid Africa says it has agreed a deal with a group of miners in Zimbabwe to build 72MW of solar for their operations.
Zimbabwean miners are desperate for alternative energy to power up new projects and expansion, at a time when power utility ZESA is failing to meet demand.
“Grid Africa has successfully secured a project to develop 72 MW of power for multiple mines in Zimbabwe,” CEO Norman Moyo says. “This initiative is expected to save the mines over $9.2 million annually and aims to significantly decrease energy imports for the participating mines.”
Moyo did not name the mines involved. Grid Africa, as Distributed Power Africa, has installed solar for large industries such as rooftop projects at Varun Beverages, Schweppes, and at Devki in Kenya.
The cost of power is the biggest expense for miners in Zimbabwe, following a significant 40% increase in tariffs last year, according to the Chamber of Mines. Miners state that electricity accounts for an average of 20% of the stay-in-business capital budget for mining companies.
In response, many gold producers, including Caledonia and Dallaglio, have invested in alternative power for their mines. Zimplats aims to commission a new solar plant this year, while Karo Platinum, building a new mine at Selous, also has a solar farm as part of its plans.
Energy Minister Edgar Moyo says power demand from the mining sector has now risen to 2,600MW as the industry expands and new projects come onstream. This is more than the total 1,400MW that Zimbabwe is producing currently. He has told ferrochrome producers, the largest consumers of energy in the country, to invest in their own energy and ease the pressure on the national grid. – (NewZWire)
