THE Nyabira solar plant, operated by African Transmission Corporation and one of Zimbabwe’s prominent solar projects, has completed its second phase of expansion and entered full commercial production.
The plant has grown its capacity from 2,5 megawatts to 25MW, providing a major boost to the country’s struggling power grid.
The expansion, fully funded by domestic capital, underscores the increasing role of local investors in addressing the nation’s energy shortages.
The project, in Mashonaland West Province, was one of the first independent power producers (IPPs) to contribute to the national grid when it started feeding in the 2,5MW of solar power in 2019.
With the recent expansion, it is now set to generate more than 3 700MWh of clean, renewable energy annually, helping to reduce the country’s reliance on traditional, fossil-fuel-based electricity sources.
Victor Utedzi, the founder of Centragrid, the project company, and director of ATC, emphasised the importance of local investment in bringing the project to completion.
“This project is a testament to what can be achieved by local investors when given the opportunity to play a role in solving Africa’s energy challenges,” he said.
Mr Utedzi highlighted that the Nyabira plant was Zimbabwe’s first utility-scale solar project to be fully funded from local capital, with major investors including Old Mutual Zimbabwe, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), and local pension funds.
Old Mutual, through its Old Mutual Investment Group Zimbabwe (OMIGZ), invested US$21,5 million into the project as part of its broader impact investment strategy.
This funding helped scale the plant’s capacity, aligning with Old Mutual’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
Mr Utedzi pointed to this financial backing as crucial in overcoming the challenges that the project faced during its expansion.
“The commitment from institutions like Old Mutual and NSSA was key to navigating the complex regulatory and financial landscape. It shows that local capital can be a powerful driver of infrastructure development,” he said.
The Nyabira plant’s expansion comes at a critical time for the country, which faces a power deficit of around 600MW to 700MW, driven in part by climate change and falling water levels at the Kariba South hydro-power plant, the country’s other main source of electricity.
The addition of 25MW of solar power to the grid is expected to alleviate some of this pressure, providing a much-needed alternative source of clean, emission-free energy.
Looking ahead, Mr Utedzi said this was only the beginning for Centragrid and ATC.
The company is already planning the third phase of expansion to increase the plant’s capacity and continue to contribute to Zimbabwe’s renewable energy targets.
“With phase two now complete and fully operational, we’re already focusing on phase three. Our goal is to keep pushing the boundaries of what local investment can achieve in Zimbabwe’s energy sector,” he said.
The success of the Nyabira solar plant represents a broader trend towards renewable energy development in Zimbabwe, where IPPs are increasingly being seen as key players in the effort to bridge the country’s power deficit.
As local investors continue to back solar projects, the future of Zimbabwe’s energy landscape may well lie in home-grown solutions.