Zimbabwe turns mining growth into energy opportunity with $9bn project

Zimbabwe is leveraging its fast-growing mining sector to drive a major energy transformation, according to The Herald, a partner of TV BRICS.

This is coming with plans to invest more than 9 billion dollars into new power generation projects by 2030.

The strategy, outlined by Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo at the Africa Down Under Mining Conference in Perth, will see the country expand capacity to 5,432MW, nearly half of it from renewable sources, with 70 per cent of the investment expected from the private sector.

“Zimbabwe’s mining boom is an energy opportunity, and our energy transformation is an investment gateway,” said Moyo.

The mining industry, fuelled by lithium, gold, platinum and diamond exports, has become not just the country’s biggest energy consumer but also a key investor in new supply, the report stated.

Leading firms have already rolled out solar plants and captive generation projects, reducing pressure on the grid while strengthening long-term energy security.

Minister Moyo also highlighted Zimbabwe is also enhancing cross-border transmission links through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), positioning itself as a future regional energy hub serving a market of more than 300 million people.