Valinor Investments Breaks Ground On $8 Million, 10 MW Solar Project In Zambia

Valinor Investments Limited, the rural investment arm of Thebe Investment Management Limited, has started construction of an $8 million solar photovoltaic project in Mwandi District, Western Province, Zambia. The project is being developed in partnership with Lunzua Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of Exergy Energy Limited, and represents Valinor’s first investment in the energy sector.

The solar project is planned as a 20 MW joint development, with the first phase involving a 10 MW facility. The project will generate renewable electricity for Zambia’s national grid operated by ZESCO. Valinor and Lunzua Power are financing the estimated $8 million development through a 30:70 equity-to-debt structure. The financing will cover the construction of the solar plant as well as a dedicated evacuation power line required to connect the facility to the national grid.

SANY International (Zambia) Industrial Company Limited has been selected as the main contractor for the project. Construction activities have commenced at the 40-hectare site in the Mwilima area of Mwandi District, with construction teams already mobilized. The first phase is targeted for completion by January 2027, with the construction period expected to take approximately six months.

Once completed, the first phase will have an installed capacity of 11 MWp on the direct-current side and 10 MWac on the alternating-current side. The facility is expected to generate approximately 22 GWh of electricity annually. According to the project developers, this generation capacity could meet the electricity requirements of around 4,600 households while also supporting industrial consumers in the surrounding region.

The development is also expected to create employment and support economic activity in the local community. Around 100 jobs are projected to be generated during the construction phase. Additional permanent positions are expected to be created for the operation and maintenance of the solar facility after commissioning.

The project forms part of Valinor Investments’ strategy of deploying long-term capital into rural areas of Zambia. By developing renewable energy infrastructure in Mwandi, the investment is intended to support the use of the region’s solar resources while contributing to electricity supply and local economic development.

The solar facility is expected to provide renewable power to the national grid while supporting industrial electricity demand. The project also highlights the role of private investment and partnerships in expanding Zambia’s renewable energy infrastructure and creating economic opportunities in rural districts.