Zimbabwe KMC 36 MW Solar-plus-Storage Project Expected to Commission in September

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Zimbabwe's Kamativi Mining Company (KMC) plans to commission a 36 MW mine-site photovoltaic power plant in September 2026, with the project also equipped with a 48 MWh battery energy storage system, at a total investment of approximately USD 25 million. The facility will power KMC's lithium mining and beneficiation operations, reducing the mine's reliance on the national grid.

The project's photovoltaic facilities are currently under construction, while the battery energy storage system has not yet been installed. KMC Chief Operating Officer Turkey Liang stated during a visit by Zimbabwe's Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development that the storage component is part of the remaining work to be completed before the project's full commissioning. KMC management had previously set the overall completion date for the end of September.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has granted New Dawn Solar Private Limited a 25-year generation license, approving the construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of the 36 MW photovoltaic plant and 48 MWh energy storage system. The license was issued on July 17 and specifies that electricity may be supplied to customers within the licensed scope.

KMC commenced on-site construction at the end of June, with 710 W photovoltaic modules arriving in batches, while civil works, racking installation, and module placement are being carried out simultaneously in some areas. Upon project completion, the photovoltaic power will directly serve the mine and ore processing facilities, while the energy storage system will store electricity generated during the day and release it during periods of insufficient sunlight or high mine load.

The solar-plus-storage project is being implemented in tandem with KMC's expanding lithium processing operations. In addition to the existing lithium mining and beneficiation facilities, KMC is also building a lithium sulfate project with a planned annual output of 75,000 tons, with the relevant production lines scheduled to commence operations in 2027, and electricity demand is expected to rise as processing capacity increases.