Chisamba Solar Power Plant
100 MW solar power plant in Zambia
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The plant was developed by the Kariba North Bank Extension Power Corporation, a subsidiary of ZESCO, and built by Power China International Group. Financing came from a mix of debt and equity: Stanbic Bank Zambia provided a loan of US$71.5 million, while ZESCO and KNBEPC each contributed US$30 million in equity. Total investment in the first phase was approximately US$100 million. The plant has an installed capacity of 100 MW and is estimated to supply enough electricity for 30,000 to 50,000 homes.
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Power purchase and usage
Electricity from the plant is sold under a 13-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with GreenCo Power Services, with the power supplied primarily to First Quantum Minerals (FQM), a copper mining company operating in Zambia. Under the arrangement, ZESCO redirects an equivalent amount of electricity to domestic consumers.
Economic and social impact
Construction created over 1,200 jobs, of which approximately 98% were sourced locally. The plant is expected to employ around 100 people during operations. It is part of Zambia's plan to install 1,000 MW of solar capacity by 2025. A second 100 MW phase at the site is planned.