PLZ breaks ground on 70MW solar for lithium plant
Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe began building a 70-megawatt solar facility at its Arcadia Mine near Harare to reduce dependence on the national electricity network. The Chinese-owned processor will finish a 400 million dollar lithium sulfate plant by early 2026, capable of producing 60,000 tonnes annually. Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando toured the site and confirmed the energy project addresses power shortages that disrupt operations.
Zimbabwe’s grid supplies roughly 1,400 megawatts, while peak demand exceeds 2,200 megawatts as mining companies expand production. Zimplats launched part of a 185-megawatt solar array in July, while Caledonia Mining activated a 12.2-megawatt system at Blanket Mine. The government supports independent power producers through favorable policies and banned raw lithium exports in 2022 to encourage local processing that generates higher revenues than selling unrefined concentrates.
