Zambia’s 100 MW Maamba Solar Project Injects First Power into National Grid
Zambia’s 100 MWac Maamba Solar PV Project has entered its commissioning phase after injecting electricity into the national grid for the first time on September 24, marking a major milestone for the renewable energy project.
Developed by Maamba Solar Energy Limited (MSEL), the utility-scale solar project is located in Maamba, Sinazongwe District, Southern Province, alongside the existing Maamba thermal power operations.
MSEL is jointly owned by ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH), which holds a 35% equity stake, and Nava Global PTE Limited, the international arm of India-listed Nava Limited, which owns the remaining 65%.
The project represents an investment of approximately US$90 million and features bifacial photovoltaic modules mounted on single-axis tracking systems.
The trackers follow the sun during the day to maximise energy yield.
The facility also includes a dedicated 330 kV substation and grid-interconnection infrastructure to evacuate power to Zambia’s national grid.
All electricity generated by the plant has been contracted to ZESCO under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement, providing a long-term market for the project’s output. The PPA was agreed at a tariff of US$0.078/kWh.
With first power now achieved, the project has moved into detailed commissioning and verification.
This includes testing the PV generation system, tracking systems, inverters, medium-voltage collection network, 330 kV substation, protection and control systems, metering, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), communications systems and grid-interconnection facilities.
The project will subsequently undergo synchronisation, reliability and performance testing, including verification of its response to grid requirements, before it reaches full commercial operation.
ZCCM-IH said further updates would be issued as key commissioning milestones are achieved.
ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Kakenenwa Muyangwa said the first power injection came at an important time for Zambia, given the potential pressure that El Niño conditions could place on hydropower generation.
He said the additional 100 MW of solar capacity would contribute to energy security while helping diversify Zambia’s generation mix and reduce reliance on a single source of electricity.
Muyangwa added that ZCCM-IH’s investment in MSEL reflected its commitment to strategic energy projects capable of supporting economic growth and Zambia’s ambition of reaching 10,000 MW of electricity generation capacity.
For Nava Limited, the project also represents its formal entry into utility-scale renewable energy and forms part of its strategy to diversify beyond its traditional business interests.
The Maamba project is expected to strengthen Zambia’s renewable generation capacity while adding solar power to an energy system that remains heavily dependent on hydropower.
Its location alongside existing thermal generation also establishes Maamba as a broader energy hub in Southern Province.
However, the first injection of electricity does not yet represent full commercial operation. The remaining commissioning, synchronisation, reliability and performance tests must be completed before the plant is fully operational.
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