CEC Commissions 60MW Itimpi Solar Photovoltaic Power Station in Kitwe
Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has taken a significant stride towards sustainable operations with the successful commissioning of the 60-megawatt Itimpi Solar Photovoltaic Power Station in Garneton, Kitwe, held on Wednesday, 10th April 2024. The Plant was unveiled by the President of the Republic of Zambia, H.E. Mr Hakainde Hichilema, along with other dignitaries and stakeholders.
During the event, President Hichilema remarked, “What CEC has done today adds to our agenda as a nation to generate diversified electric energy. When CEC does what they have done today, we must see that [Itimpi Solar Plant] is a Zambian asset and investment which will contribute to the national economic development agenda.”
CEC’s Board Chairperson, Mr London Mwafulilwa, emphasized the company’s commitment to partnering with the government and other sector players to advance the electricity sector and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. “This is an affirmation of our commitment as CEC to partnering first of all with the government and indeed with other sector players to contribute to the advancement of the electricity sector and the social-economic development of our country,” he stated.
CEC’s Managing Director, Mr Owen Silavwe, highlighted the significance of the project, remarking, “The combination of our Itimpi and our Riverside Solar Plants will deliver a total annual energy output of 186 GWh… The drought we have experienced this year is a wake-up call for the energy sector to be at the centre of driving lasting solutions that will ensure a consistent power supply to our economy at all times.”
The Itimpi Solar Photovoltaic Power Station is expected to offset 122,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, complementing CEC’s efforts to support Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contribution in reducing carbon emissions. The plant, equipped with tracking technology, has an annual generation capacity of 130 GWh and covers an area of 80 hectares with 109,144 mono-crystalline bifacial solar modules and 200 inverters.
The construction of the Itimpi Solar Photovoltaic Power Station, with an investment of over USD 53 million, was financed through the first tranche of CEC Renewables’ USD 200 million Green Bond listed on the Lusaka Securities Exchange. CEC plans to access further tranches of the Green Bond to finance future solar developments with associated storage technology, including a planned 126MW solar plant on the same site, scheduled for construction in 2025.
CEC’s investment in renewable energy sources underscores its commitment to corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship. During the construction phase of the Itimpi project, over 1,220 skilled and unskilled workers were employed, and CEC partnered with the Forestry Department to provide earning opportunities for wood merchants from the trees felled during land clearance.
The commissioning of the Itimpi Solar Photovoltaic Power Station marks a significant milestone in CEC’s journey towards a diversified and sustainable energy mix, solidifying its position as a leader in the energy transmission sector and contributing to Zambia’s efforts to achieve its sustainable development goals.
