Commissioning Begins at Zambia's Maamba 100MW Solar Project, First Power Delivered to the National Grid

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 25, Zambia's ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) announced that the Maamba Solar 100MWac photovoltaic project has entered the commissioning phase and delivered power to the Zambian national grid for the first time on September 24. The project is located in Maamba, Sinazongwe District, Southern Province, adjacent to the existing Maamba thermal power operating facilities. It is developed by Maamba Solar Energy Limited (MSEL), with a total investment of approximately USD 90 million.

MSEL is 65% held by Nava Global, the international business platform of India's Nava Limited, and 35% by ZCCM-IH. The project has a photovoltaic power generation capacity of 100MWac, adopts bifacial photovoltaic modules and single-axis tracking mounting structures, and includes the construction of a 330kV substation and grid connection facilities. The current commissioning scope includes the photovoltaic power generation system, tracking system, inverters, medium-voltage collection network, 330kV substation, protection and control, metering, SCADA communications, and grid connection facilities.

A 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the project's entire power generation output has been signed with Zambia's national power utility ZESCO Limited. Nava previously disclosed that the PPA tariff is USD 0.078/kWh. The long-term power purchase agreement covers the project's entire output, providing a stable power sales channel for the project.

This first power delivery marks the project's transition from main construction to grid connection commissioning and performance verification. System synchronization, equipment testing, and operational performance checks will continue, and full commercial operation will begin after relevant technical and regulatory requirements are met. For Nava, the Maamba project is also its first utility-scale large photovoltaic project, further expanding its asset footprint in Africa's new energy sector.