- BB Energy has commissioned the Mailo Phase 1 Solar PV Plant, a 25 MWp merchant solar facility in Zambia.
- Mailo is now fully operational and actively trading renewable electricity through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) — a first for the Group and a first for the SAPP platform.
Delivering this project and securing access to new finance, means BB Energy will now embark on an ambitious plan to roll out over 500 MWp worth of power projects across southern Africa.
This milestone represents three major firsts for BB Energy:
- The first-ever solar infrastructure project designed, built, completed and operated by the Group.
- The first time BB Energy is trading electricity, applying decades of energy trading expertise to renewable power.
- The first debt financing secured for the Group’s growing energy transition portfolio, with a USD 40 million loan from Standard Bank, supporting the construction of Mailo Phase 2, now underway.
This is a pivotal development in BB Energy’s long-term energy transition, which balances continued growth in physical trading with credible, scaled investments in low-carbon projects. Mailo demonstrates that the Group is not only committed to transition, but has the capability to originate, build, operate, and trade renewable energy at speed and at scale.
The plant, located on 204 hectares in the Mailo Chiefdom, has now begun delivering over 60 GWh of clean power annually, enough to supply 25,000 homes and displace over 2,000,000 tonnes of CO₂ over its lifetime.
- Mailo Phase 1 (25 MWp) – Completed and trading through SAPP (now operational)
- Mailo Phase 2 (35 MWp) – Now under construction, with site capacity to reach 60 MWp within few months
- Mailo Final Phase – Full expansion to 118 MWp by 2027
Alongside Mailo, construction is also progressing on Gerus Solar PV in Namibia. Together, these two plants mark the start of Solarcentury Africa’s planned 500 MWp merchant solar portfolio, focused on building flexible, financeable renewable generation assets across the SADC region.
BB Energy has secured a USD 40 million loan from Standard Bank to finance Mailo Phase 2 — the first dedicated energy transition loan facility for the Group. This financing is also part of a broader framework to support the rollout of Solarcentury Africa’s merchant portfolio.
In a further vote of confidence, Standard Bank has joined BB Energy’s Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) for the first time in 2025, signalling growing institutional confidence and alignment with the Group’s strategic direction.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
