Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
PPC Zimbabwe, the country’s largest cement producer, is moving forward with its planned 30-megawatt (MW) solar energy project, a vital component of its decarbonisation strategy that enhances energy resilience and reduces reliance on rising electricity costs.
The dual-phased renewable energy project comprises a 20 MW embedded solar plant with battery storage at the Colleen Bawn clinker manufacturing facility and a 10 MW solar farm at the firm’s Bulawayo milling plant.
In 2022, PPC Zimbabwe completed the financial closure for the US$43 million solar project, expected to reduce the high energy cost as well as contribute towards the company’s decarbonisation initiatives.
With the Bulawayo plant requiring only 17 MW, the remaining 13 MW is set to be fed into the national grid.
A total of 20 000 solar panels will be installed at a farm in Umguza, just next to the Bulawayo plant, while 40 000 panels will be put up in Colleen Bawn, Gwanda, with all the panels being the sun-tracking type.
“In Zimbabwe, we are developing a 30 MW solar initiative with a 20 MW embedded solar plant at Colleen Bawn and a 10 MW solar plant at Bulawayo,” the company said in its latest 2025 Integrated Report for the period ended March 31, 2025.
“These projects are crucial to our decarbonisation strategy, expected to bolster energy resilience, mitigate rising electricity costs, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. They demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable value creation.”
The developments come as PPC seeks to enhance the sustainability of its Zimbabwean operations amid significant operational and market challenges in the 2025 financial year.
Power supply disruptions have often led to multiple production stoppages at the Colleen Bawn and Harare plants, while unreliable rail transport has hindered the delivery of essential raw materials.
However, PPC Zimbabwe has optimised its supply chain for quicker delivery times and implemented production efficiencies to control costs.
“FY25 faced both operational and market challenges,” the company acknowledged. “Power supply issues caused disruptions at the Harare and Colleen Bawn plants, while unreliable rail service delayed raw material deliveries.
“Despite these challenges, we improved turnaround times and adjusted our production strategy to reduce costs and enhance efficiency.”
On its part, the Government has undertaken several initiatives to improve the domestic supply of electricity, including the Hwange Power Station expansion and planned upgrades, as well as Kariba Power Station expansion.
Recurrent droughts have, however, limited output at Kariba due to reduced water availability. Several independent power producers have been issued licences, with some already feeding into the national grid while others remain work in progress.
Despite the notable efforts to boost demand, domestic power production continues to lag demand amid rapid economic growth. The power demand can be as high as 2 200MW against an average supply of 1 400MW.
Online Reporter