Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe to construct 70MW solar plant to boost energy supply

• Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) has announced that ot will begun construction of a 70-megawatt solar power plant as part of its strategy to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on the national grid.

The project will support operations at PLZ, a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Limited, one of the world’s largest producers of lithium-ion battery materials and cobalt products. The investment forms part of the company’s broader plan to secure sustainable and reliable power for its fast-expanding operations.

Zimbabwe’s national grid continues to face increasing pressure from surging demand by industries, households, and a growing mining sector, with peak demand estimated at around 2,200 megawatts against a domestic supply capacity of about 1,400 megawatts.

PLZ is developing value-addition facilities to process lithium locally, rather than exporting raw concentrates. The company is constructing a US$400 million lithium sulphate plant in Goromonzi, which will process raw lithium concentrates into high-value salts. The new facility, currently 75 percent complete, is expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2026, with an annual output of approximately 60,000 tonnes of lithium sulphate.

The Government’s Independent Power Producer (IPP) policy continues to encourage private sector participation in electricity generation through incentives and supportive frameworks, particularly for renewable energy projects such as solar. Read more

Author: Bryan Groenendaal