Zimplats, Zimbabwe's largest platinum producer, anticipates the construction of its 35-megawatt (MW) solar facility at the Selous Metallurgical Complex (SMC) to be completed by the end of next month.
The project is the first phase of an 185 MW solar power plant worth $201 million.
"Implementation of the solar plant at SMC, which is phase one, which is a 35MW plant of the total, is earmarked for completion at the end of this coming month, that is July 2023," Zimplats chairperson Thandi Orleyn was quoted as saying by The Standard.
Zimplats is also building a larger smelter at SMC as part of its $1.8 billion development plan.
“We are now on the third phase of the expansion programme with an investment tag of a potential US$1,8 billion, of which US$1,4 billion has already been approved by the Zimplats board and shareholders which began last quarter of calendar year 2021,” she said.
“Other major projects still underway include the construction of a wet acid plant that will produce sulphuric acid used in the manufacture of phosphate fertilisers for agricultural purposes, a base metal refinery, and lastly, the expansion of tailing storage facilities.”
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
