Zambia's Maamba Solar PV Project began injecting electricity into the national grid on September 24, 2026, marking a key milestone for the 100 MWac solar installation in the Southern Province.
The project is operated by Maamba Solar Energy Limited, a joint venture between ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc, which holds a 35% equity stake, and Nava Global PTE Limited, the international division of India-listed Nava Limited, which owns the remaining 65%. Total investment in the project stands at approximately $90 million.
Power generated at the facility is contracted to state utility ZESCO Limited under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement. The plant features bifacial photovoltaic modules mounted on single-axis trackers and includes a dedicated 330 kV substation with associated grid-interconnection infrastructure.
Before reaching full commercial operation, the project will undergo a commissioning phase that involves testing and verification of the PV generation system, tracking systems, inverters, medium-voltage collection network, substation, protection and control systems, metering, SCADA and communication systems, and grid-interconnection facilities. The plant must complete synchronization, reliability, and performance verification tests during this period.
ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc is primarily listed on the Lusaka Securities Exchange under ISIN ZM0000000037, with secondary listings on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Access in Paris.
Kakenenwa Muyangwa, chief executive officer of ZCCM-IH, said the timing of the project's first power injection was strategically important. "With Zambia bracing for the impending El Niño and the pressure it is expected to place on hydropower generation, 100 megawatts of solar capacity is a direct and timely response to the country's energy security needs," Muyangwa said.
