Unki Mine, Zimbabwe’s second-largest platinum group metals producer, is advancing plans for a 10.6-megawatt solar plant to power its operations and reduce reliance on the struggling national grid.
The move underscores a growing trend within Zimbabwe’s resource sector, where major miners are increasingly investing in proprietary solar solutions. An industry observer noted, "Many miners are turning to solar to escape unreliable grid supply and the high diesel costs, which are severely impacting operational budgets."
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The national mining sector's electricity demand has climbed significantly to approximately 2,600MW as existing mines expand and new projects come online. This demand currently far outstrips the supply capacity of the state utility, ZESA.
The planned solar facility is aimed at securing power supply for Unki, which produces an estimated 240,000 ounces of PGMs annually, ensuring operational stability and continuous production despite the country’s persistent power deficit.
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