Zimbabwe plans to begin construction of a floating solar power plant on Lake Kariba, the world’s largest human-made reservoir, next year, as the country steps up efforts to address worsening electricity shortages.
Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said work on the first phase of the 600-megawatt project is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026, Bloomberg reported.
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The initiative is part of a broader government effort to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on hydropower, which has become increasingly unreliable due to recurring droughts.
Although the long-term plan is to install solar panels directly on the lake’s surface, the initial stage will be built on land beside the reservoir, Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka said. Because Zimbabwe shares Lake Kariba with Zambia, the project will require approval from both governments.
Afreximbank funds feasibility study
Zimbabwe’s largest power consumers, operating through a consortium, announced in June that they had secured $4.4 million from the African Export–Import Bank to fund a full feasibility study for the development.
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The proposed plant, expected to be completed by 2031, is estimated to cost $650 million, according to Masuka.
Zimbabwe continues to face chronic power shortages, worsened last year when severe drought sharply reduced hydropower output from the Kariba Dam, which normally supplies half of the nation’s electricity.
The country currently generates about 550 megawatts from Kariba, well below its installed capacity of 1,050 megawatts.
