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 works to address worsening electricity shortages.
Afreximbank Funds Feasibility Study
Work on the first phase of the 600-megawatt project is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026, according to Information Minister Jenfan Muswere.
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. The project will require approval from both Zimbabwe and Zambia, as the two countries share Lake Kariba.
Zimbabwe’s largest power consumers, operating through a consortium, secured $4.4 million from the African Export–Import Bank in June to fund a full feasibility study for the development.
The proposed plant is estimated to cost $650 million and is expected to be completed by 2031, 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.
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