eBusiness Weekly
Business Writer
Tharisa, a platinum group metals (PGM) and chrome producer, has partnered – Total Eren and Chariot for the development, financing, construction of Karo Platinum Mine and operation of a 300MW solar photovoltaic project at its Zimbabwe-based
The solar PV project is expected to have an initial installed capacity of 30 MWp with a potential extension of up to 300MWp.
Commenting on the deal, Fabienne Demol, Executive Vice-President & Global Head of Business Development of Total Eren said solar project will enable the Karo Platinum Mine to be supplied in low carbon electricity during its operating life, therefore reducing its carbon footprint and generate a competitive source of electricity supply in Zimbabwe.
“I look forward to delivering this solar project and wish to start even more renewable energy projects in this country where our strategic shareholder, TotalEnergies, holds a strong footprint,” Demol said.
Benoit Garrivier, Chariot Transitional Power CEO, added: “In partnering with Total Eren on this project, we advance towards our objective of delivering a 1 GW renewable energy pipeline and developing some of the largest sustainable power projects in Africa. We wish Karo all the best with their construction phase and look forward to implementing the solar plant build in due course.”
Bernard Pryor, MD of Karo Mining Holdings, said the miner has a broader power strategy that it will develop together with partners and the government of Zimbabwe, “to ensure stable and lasting green energy benefitting all our stakeholders and beyond.”
No quick solutions
The solar project comes at a time Zimbabwe is facing crippling power load shedding lasting for an average of 19 hours per day.
In a post Cabinet media briefing, Energy Secretary Gloria Magombo offered little clues on how the government is planning to meet the energy deficit of more than 1 250MW.
She said the country is negotiating with EDM in Mozambique to increase supplies to 50MW, while there is an agreement for a further 150MW from Mozambique’s HCB.
Zimbabwe also has a firm deal to import 100MW from Eskom, subject to availability and another 100MW from Zambia.
While commissioning of a 300MW thermal power plant has commenced, Magombo said the commissioning phase will continue for a further period to make sure that the power supply is stable.
Hope for Zimbabwe is thus only in the long term when another 300MW thermal power plant is expected to come on board.
A further 500MW of solar is also on the cards although winning bidders will only be announced next year.
Zimbabwe has also signed an agreement with solar company Evergreen for 100MW and another 500MW from Dubai’s SkyPower, which will install its projects in phases of 100MW.
