The 100 MWac Maamba Solar photovoltaic project injected electricity into Zambia’s national grid for the first time on 24 September 2026, ZCCM Investments Holdings announced on 25 September. The company said the facility had entered commissioning, with testing and verification still required before full commercial operation. The developer, Maamba Solar Energy Limited, is owned 35% by ZCCM-IH and 65% by Nava Global PTE Limited, the international arm of India-listed Nava Limited. The project is located in Maamba, Sinazongwe District in Southern Province, alongside existing thermal power operations. ZCCM-IH put total investment at approximately US$90 million. The plant uses bifacial photovoltaic modules on single-axis trackers, designed to follow the sun and maximise energy yield. Dedicated grid infrastructure includes a 330 kV substation and interconnection facilities. Output is contracted to ZESCO Limited under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The announcement describes that contract as providing long-term revenue visibility, but does not publish the tariff or detailed project-financing terms. Commissioning covers the generation system, trackers, inverters, medium-voltage collection network and substation. Protection and control, metering, SCADA, communications and grid connections also require verification against technical standards, grid codes, contractual obligations and regulatory requirements. Further synchronisation, reliability and performance checks will establish the plant’s response to grid requirements. ZCCM-IH said it would update shareholders and the market on additional milestones. No full commercial-operation date is confirmed in the release. Nexus analysis: First power is an important technical milestone, not proof that all 100 MWac is continuously available or that commissioning is complete. The project’s contribution to supply diversification should be assessed after verified performance and commercial acceptance, rather than treating initial grid injection as full operational delivery.
- ZCCM-IH / Lusaka Securities Exchange
Maamba solar project injects first electricity into Zambia’s grid
Last verified 22 Oct 2026Verified
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