• Zimplats starts $54M phase 2A solar project to reach 80 MW capacity

• Solar shift cuts costs, boosts power reliability for mining operations

• Move aligns with Zimbabwe’s climate policy and global emissions goals

Platinum producer Zimplats has begun implementing phase 2A of its solar power program, a 45-megawatt (MW) project worth $54 million, the company said in its quarterly report released on Oct. 30. The new phase follows the 35 MW phase 1A plant, which came online in August 2024.

By the end of the third quarter, Zimplats had spent $12 million and committed another $36 million toward the second phase, which is scheduled for completion in the first half of fiscal 2027. Once finished, the project will bring the company’s total solar capacity to 80 MW.

A subsidiary of South Africa’s Impala Platinum (Implats), Zimplats said the expansion of solar power supports its climate commitments while helping to cut costs and secure reliable electricity for its mining operations. The company noted that its second-quarter 2025 expenses benefited from credits tied to power generated since the first plant began operating.

The shift toward renewable energy extends beyond Zimbabwe. Across sub-Saharan Africa, mining companies are increasingly turning to solar power as a resilience tool against energy instability. When paired with battery storage systems, as planned for the Kamoa-Kakula copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, solar power can provide consistent supply, reduce downtime and lower reliance on diesel.

Zimplats said its solar initiative aligns with Zimbabwe’s national climate policy adopted in 2016, which aims to strengthen resilience to climate change and advance carbon neutrality. The company is working to reduce its carbon footprint, cut direct and indirect emissions and improve reporting on Scope 3 emissions in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action.

Abdoullah Diop