Kanzimbe Solar Power Station

Not to be confused with Nanjoka Solar Power Station.

Kanzimbe Solar Power Station
Map
CountryMalawi
LocationKanzimbe, Khombedza TA, Salima District, Central Province
Coordinates13°42′45″S 34°19′32″E / 13.71250°S 34.32556°E / -13.71250; 34.32556
StatusOperational
Construction beganDecember 2018
Commission dateNovember 2021
Construction costUS$80 million
OwnerJCM Matswana Solar Corporation
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Site area168 hectares (420 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity60 megawatts (80,000 hp)
Annual net output154 GWh
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Kanzimbe Solar Power Station, is a 60 megawatts (80,000 hp) solar power plant, in Malawi, in Southern Africa.[1] The power station was constructed between December 2018 and November 2021.[2]

Location

The power station is located in the neighborhood known as Kanzimbe, in Khombeza Traditional Area, in Salima District, on the south-western banks of Lake Malawi,[3] approximately 110 kilometres (68 mi),[4] by road, north-east of Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city. Salima is located about 119 kilometres (74 mi) by road, south of the town of Nkhotakota, on the western coast of Lake Malawi.[5] The power station is located here.[6]

Overview

As of 2018, Malawi was reported to have the lowest electrification rate in the World, with a per capital consumption estimated at 93 kWh per year compared with an average of 432 kWh for Sub-Saharan Africa and 2,167 kWh per year for the World average. There is urgency for Malawi to reach the critical threshold of 500 kWh per year.[7]

As part of efforts to increase electricity output and to diversify Malawi's sources of energy, the country developed this solar power station (60 megawatts), Kammwamba Thermal Power Station (300 megawatts) and Mpatamanga Hydroelectric Power Station (350 megawatts), in the medium term.[8]

The energy generated by this power station is sold to the Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (Escom), under a 20-year power purchase agreement.[1][9]

In addition to the solar farm, a new 132kV electricity switchyard and a new 4 kilometres (2 mi) 132kV high voltage transmission line were built to evacuate the generated energy to the Escom 132kV substation at Nanjoka, where it enters the national grid.[10]

Developers

The power station was developed by a consortium comprising three companies as illustrated in the table below:[11][12]

Members of Consortium Developing Kanzimbe Solar Power Station
Rank Shareholder Domicile Percentage Notes
1 JCM Power Canada
2 Matswani Capital Private Malawi
3 InfraCo Africa United Kingdom
Total 100.00

JCM Power is a Canadian renewable energy, independent power producer, active in South Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.[8][13]

Construction timeline, costs and funding

Construction was flagged off in December 2018.[8] The development costs of the power station and related infrastructure is quoted as high as US$80 million.[10]

In July 2021, the Africa Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) insured JCM Matswani Solar Corporation Limited, the special purpose vehicle company (SPVC) that owns, built, operates and maintains the power station against late payments by the power plant off-taker, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom). The ten-year policy cost US$4.4 million. Completion and commercial commissioning are expected in August 2021.[14]

This renewable energy power project benefitted from partial funding from the Netherlands Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO Netherlands), totaling US$12.51 million.[14]

Commercial commissioning

The completed solar farm was commissioned by Lazarus Chakwera, the President of Malawi, on 19 November 2021.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jean Marie Takouleu (19 November 2021). "Malawi: In Salima, the country's first solar power plant (60 MWp) goes into operation". Afrik2.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ ESI-Africa (4 December 2018). "Malawi: 60MW solar plant to end blackouts". ESI-Africa. Rondebosch, South Africa. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Location of Salima District, Malawi" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Road Distance Between Lilongwe, Central Region, Malawi And Khombedza Health Centre, Central Region, Malawi" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Road Distance Between Salima, Malawi And Nkhotakota, Malawi" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Location of Kanzimbe Solar Power Station" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  7. ^ John L Taulo, Kenneth Joseph Gondwe, and Adoniya Ben Sebitosi (May 2015). "Energy supply in Malawi: Options and issues: Current status of energy demand and supply in Malawi" (Volume 26, number 2). Journal of Energy in Southern Africa. 26 (2). Cape Town: 19–32. Retrieved 8 December 2018.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c Watson Maingo-Mana, and Green Muheya (3 December 2018). "Mutharika Opens Solar Plant Construction: More Investments To End Blackouts In Malawi". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  9. ^ Malawi News Agency (4 December 2018). "President Mutharika opens 60 megawatts solar plant construction". Maravi Post Quoting Malawi News Agency. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  10. ^ a b ESIA Team (28 September 2018). "JCM Matswani Solar Corporation Limited: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)" (PDF). Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  11. ^ FMO Netherlands (25 March 2019). "JCM Salima UK Limited". FMO (Netherlands). The Hague. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  12. ^ InfraCo Africa (2019). "Malawi: Salima Solar: Starting the journey to solar power". InfraCo Africa. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  13. ^ JCMPower Canada (2018). "Salima, Malawi Solar Project: Project Overview". Toronto, Canada: JCMPower Canada. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  14. ^ a b Jean Marie Takouleu (21 July 2021). "Malawi: ATI insures Salima solar plant (60 MWp) against default". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  15. ^ Zeenat Ganie (2 November 2021). "New solar plant connects to Malawian national grid, wins award". ESI-Africa. Cape Town. South Africa. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  16. ^ Plamena Tisheva (18 November 2021). "Malawi switches on 60-MW maiden solar plant". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.