Zimbabwe, Sany Launch Solar Project

Key Figures & Findings: China’s Sany Silicon Energy has officially commenced construction on a 10 MW solar PV plant in Zimbabwe, marking its first project in the country. The facility, commissioned by Runtu Mining Co., is designed to support Zimbabwe’s industrial energy needs amid persistent power shortages. Notably, this project is the first in Africa to utilize Sany’s EP+F model—an integrated engineering, procurement, and financing framework aimed at lowering customer financial burden. Sany, part of the SANY Group, is one of China’s major clean energy solution providers with growing global operations across Asia and now Africa.

Statistics & Insights: The plant will feature 710 high-efficiency solar modules and related inverters, with completion and grid connection expected by year-end. Zimbabwe’s solar capacity reached 70 MW by the end of 2024, up from 46 MW in 2023, while 116 MW in new licenses were issued in March 2024.

Future Implications: If delivered on schedule, the solar plant could significantly ease electricity constraints for Zimbabwe’s mining and industrial sectors by early 2026. The successful deployment of the EP+F model may also open doors for replication across other African markets with constrained access to finance.

Source: PV Magazine