Indian diversified energy company Nava has commissioned a 100 MW solar power plant in Zambia through its subsidiary Maamba Solar Energy Limited (MSEL), with power evacuation to the national grid now under way.
The project marks Nava’s entry into utility-scale renewable generation and adds solar capacity to its existing interests in power generation and mining.
MSEL has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Zambia’s state-owned utility ZESCO for the electricity generated by the plant. The long-term agreement provides the project with an offtake arrangement for its output while adding new generation capacity to Zambia’s electricity system.
The solar project is owned by MSEL, a Zambian renewable energy company held through Nava’s international arm, Nava Global. Nava Global owns 65% of MSEL, while the remaining 35% is held by ZCCM Investments Holdings, a Zambian investment company.
Nava said the commissioning forms part of a broader strategy to diversify beyond its traditional power, mining and ferro-alloy activities and build a renewable energy portfolio in international markets.
Ashwin Devineni, managing director and chief executive of Nava, said: “The commissioning of our 100MW solar project in Zambia marks a defining step in Nava’s journey into renewable energy.”
He added that the project reflected the company’s intention to develop “a diversified, future-ready energy portfolio across geographies”.
The plant’s connection to the Zambian grid comes as the country seeks to expand and diversify electricity generation. Zambia has historically relied heavily on hydropower, leaving its electricity supply exposed to variations in water availability.
The new solar capacity provides an additional source of generation and could help diversify the country’s power mix, although the project’s contribution to overall system supply will depend on its operating profile and grid integration.
For Nava, the commissioning provides a first utility-scale renewable asset from which it can develop further projects. The company said Nava Global is continuing to expand its renewable energy activities in Africa.
