Clover New Energy Advances 20 MW Solar Plant

Clover New Energy is progressing the development of a 20 MW solar PV plant in Gweru, Zimbabwe, with an estimated project cost of $20 million. The project is being implemented by Clover New Energy, a subsidiary of Jin An Chrome Smelting Company, as part of a broader industrial energy investment strategy.

The solar plant forms part of a wider $140 million energy programme that also includes a 100 MW captive power facility, designed to support ferrochrome smelting operations at the Gweru Heavy Industrial Site. Electricity generated is expected to supply both industrial loads and contribute to local grid stability, reducing reliance on imported power and improving energy security in the Midlands Province.

Engineering, procurement and construction is being undertaken by China Western Power Industrial Company, reflecting continued China–Zimbabwe cooperation in energy infrastructure development.

The project is expected to begin generating power by August 2026, with the broader captive power infrastructure scheduled for completion in 2027. While financing details have not been disclosed, the structure appears to be sponsor-led, with capital deployed as part of an integrated industrial and energy investment.

The transaction highlights the growing role of industrial players in developing embedded and captive renewable energy capacity in Southern Africa, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as mining and metals, where supply reliability and cost control remain key drivers for investment