The Cabinet of Zimbabwe has approved a proposal for a US$650 million floating solar energy project to be developed on Lake Kariba. The decision was announced by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, following a Cabinet meeting in Harare.
The project, which is proposed as a joint venture, aims to generate up to 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity upon completion. According to the government’s statement, the implementation will occur in phases, with the first phase targeting the installation of 150 MW. The subsequent phases will add to the plant’s capacity until it reaches the 500 MW target.
Minister Muswere stated that the project aligns with the country’s goal of expanding its renewable energy portfolio and increasing power generation capacity. The floating solar panel technology, known as “floatovoltaics,” involves mounting solar panels on a buoyant structure on a body of water, which can offer benefits such as increased efficiency due to the cooling effect of the water.
The approval of the Lake Kariba initiative comes as a separate government-contracted solar project in Gwanda remains incomplete. The 100 MW Gwanda Solar Project was awarded to the company Intratrek Zimbabwe in 2015.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a state-owned utility, has been involved in legal disputes with Intratrek Zimbabwe concerning the project’s implementation and the use of funds advanced for its development. While some preliminary work has been conducted at the Gwanda site, the power plant is not yet operational. The project’s timeline and completion have been the subject of public reports and parliamentary committee discussions.
The government has not issued a statement directly linking the approval of the Kariba project to the status of the Gwanda plant. The focus of the official announcement was on the technical and economic details of the new floating solar proposal and its potential contribution to Zimbabwe’s national grid. Further details regarding the specific timelines and investment partners for the Lake Kariba project have not yet been released.
