Zimplats turns to direct imports and own generatio...

Zimplats turns to direct imports and own generation to counter power cuts

Zim Now Writer

To counter power shortages, Zimplats, is now importing power directly from Zambia and is targeting to construct a solar plant that will have 185MW capacity on completion.

Responding to a Chamber of Mines' survey about power challenges, Zimplats revealed that it has put in place a power agreement with Zambia Electricity Supply Company for up to 70MW.

The biggest platinum producer in Zimbabwe and a subsidiary of SA Implats said that this has positively impacted power stability.

Zimbabwe’s mining sector has been hard hit by power shortages with gold producers falling short of the 2022 national target.

https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/7678/annual-gold-production-dips-15

Caledonia’s Blanket Mine was one of the few to buck the trend after the company invested in a dedicated solar plant generation 15MW providing up to 25 percent of the mine’s daily power needs.

https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/7472/blanket-mine-sets-gold-production-record

Zimplats also shared plans for a solar project at an estimatedUS$201 million, which will see Zimplats getting 35MW in the initial phase and reaching 185MW with completion set for 2027. This woulld make Zimplats one of the biggest independent power producers in the country and contribute significantly towards reducing the national power deficit which is currrently at around 1000MW.

Zimplats said its planned US$1.8 billion expansion plan, is set to be completed by 2028.

https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/536/muller-rates-zimbabwe-better-for-mining-operations-than-sa

Implats CEO Nico Muller has stated that Zimbabwe mining is in a better place compared to neighbouring South Africa which is equally affected by power shortages and bedevilled by labour and social issues on the back of a sliding economy.