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The Promoter
The promoter is a Zambian owned and operated company, in the business of construction and engineering consulting. The company was incorporated in Zambia in the year 2013. With the current electricity crisis in Zambia, the promoter has been advising companies on methods of constructing new power plants mainly using renewable energy methods. Also with the growth of its expertise in solar PV plants, the promoter decided to embark on its own establishment of a solar PV power plant to supply the national grid. The current project is Phase one of 200 MW country wide program to expand power supply to local companies and communities. The solar power project is to be a selection of solar PV power plant installations across the republic of Zambia. The climate in this region is ideal for solar power generation.
The promoters have already done a report which is the scoping study for the Environmental Impact Assessment of Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 is a 20 MW Solar PV power plant in Kamaila area of Chibombo district, central province of the republic of Zambia. The report is in line and according to the Environment Management Act (EMA), No 12 of 2011 prepared by the promoter’s consulting arm. The procedure being followed to prepare the EIA is outlined below:
Upon submission and approval of the scoping and terms of reference report, the appropriate EIA will be produced and submitted to ZEMA.
The completed report also contains a detailed feasibility study for the construction and grid connected implementation of a 200MW solar power project. This is to be a selection of solar PV power plants around Zambian cities amounting to a total of 200MW electricity supply. The power plants are to be direct grid connected plants with the off taker being ZESCO Ltd, Zambia’s parastatal grid owner and electricity supplier. The project is to be conducted in four phases, starting with an 80MW plant in Kamaila area, Chibombo district of Zambia. 200 Ha land has been secured for this purpose. Phases 2 – 4 are then located in Kafue, Kasama, and Chinsale for development of an additional 70 MW, 25 MW, and 25 MW plants respectively. Justification for such site selection i.e. full solar irradiation, geographical, and engineering analysis of these areas is presented herein. The lease period pertaining to the PPA is 25 years as required by investors.
The promoter is currently in collaboration with Solar World AG, a German manufacturer of Solar PV panels and related equipment for bulk and discounted supply of such equipment. Full descriptions of licensing, quality assurance certificates and overall engineering schematics shall be presented. It is the promoter’s initiative to construct a 20 MW solar plant situated in-between Lusaka and Kabwe. The area is more specifically Kamaila area of Chibombo district, Lusaka Province. The plant to be constructed on a 200 Ha piece of land will provide urban as well as rural electrification in the most crucially populated (Lusaka, Kabwe, Kafue) cities in addition to rural areas. Furthermore, local villages in the vicinity of the plant will be given access to free electricity. The project is to employ approximately 400 people during construction, and will create 50 permanent jobs.
SITE LOCATIONS
Sites for the 80 MW, 70 MW, and 25 MW plants are described below. There will be the first site in Chibombo area, Chisamba, and pursuing to phases 2-4, in Kafue, Kasama, and Chinsale districts of Zambia. These four sites were strategically selected after an in depth analysis of geographical, meteorological and solar irradiation data around the country. Such data was obtained from the World Bank ESMAP solar Modelling report for Zambia. The World Bank ESMAP Solar Modeling report provides a highly detailed technical analysis of SIX chosen sites in Zambia. From this data, solar modeling analysis for different areas around the country may be determined. Information for the areas of Kafue and Lusaka were to be obtained from ESMAP “Lusaka” data.
Chinsale site Area: Chinsale, Northern Province Size: 100 Ha Projected PV generation capacity: 25MW Location to be confirmed.
Kasama site Area: Kasama, Northern Province Size: 100 Ha Projected PV generation capacity: 25MW Location to be confirmed.
OBJECTIVES
The key objectives of this project are as follows:
• To resolve load shedding and general power crises in the republic of Zambia.
• To increase shareholders wealth and value through profit generation by operating on a sound commercial basis.
• To have successful dealing operations and remain committed to the responsible and sustainable management of investor operations from plant construction to power supply to the national grid.
The promoter’s are convinced that this project will meet the above objectives once implemented and fully operational.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The solar power plant facility is considered a large scale long-term investment that will contribute to economic benefits to the country through provision of power supply, designed in accordance with best practice, taking into account all relevant national and internal codes and legislation. The design life of the facility will be approximately 25 years.
The impact on the environment is mainly the concern of deforestation of the area and some minor mammal relocation. As the site is only a 200 Ha city site, negative impacts are considered very minimal with regards to nationwide wide forestry and land availability. Operation of the plant is fully renewable, as 0% greenhouse gases are produced, no toxic waste such as from nuclear plants is produced, and zero gases or coals are burned in the process. As a fully renewable power plant, the promoters highly recommend the plant for the positive benefits it will offer, i.e. electricity in rural areas, decrease of load shedding times, and business and economic operations benefits.
The projects would be pure solar PV grid connected installations. The project would become operational and start generating CERs directly after the completion of the first phase of the project, with work on the other phases continuing. The project is expected to help alleviate the huge energy deficit in Zambia. It will be the first Solar PV project of its magnitude in Zambia and will be a large source of clean energy. The project implores renewable energy resources and thus has zero emissions. It will in fact contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions around the globe. Carbon credits associated with project are to be registered and sold on international markets. As the promoter is a Zambian registered company, all revenue generated abroad from carbon markets will be administered and audited in Zambia; proceeds being injected directly into the Zambian economy. The project is consistent with the regulations of the Kyoto Protocol and qualifies for the application of CDM projects.
The promoter is a Zambian owned and operated company, in the business of construction and engineering consulting. The company was incorporated in Zambia in the year 2013. With the current electricity crisis in Zambia, the promoter has been advising companies on methods of constructing new power plants mainly using renewable energy methods. Also with the growth of its expertise in solar PV plants, the promoter decided to embark on its own establishment of a solar PV power plant to supply the national grid. The current project is Phase one of 200 MW country wide program to expand power supply to local companies and communities. The solar power project is to be a selection of solar PV power plant installations across the republic of Zambia. The climate in this region is ideal for solar power generation.
The promoters have already done a report which is the scoping study for the Environmental Impact Assessment of Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 is a 20 MW Solar PV power plant in Kamaila area of Chibombo district, central province of the republic of Zambia. The report is in line and according to the Environment Management Act (EMA), No 12 of 2011 prepared by the promoter’s consulting arm. The procedure being followed to prepare the EIA is outlined below:
- Site visit, field studies and scoping meeting
- Development of scoping report
- Study of policy and legal implications
- Development of terms of reference report
Upon submission and approval of the scoping and terms of reference report, the appropriate EIA will be produced and submitted to ZEMA.
The completed report also contains a detailed feasibility study for the construction and grid connected implementation of a 200MW solar power project. This is to be a selection of solar PV power plants around Zambian cities amounting to a total of 200MW electricity supply. The power plants are to be direct grid connected plants with the off taker being ZESCO Ltd, Zambia’s parastatal grid owner and electricity supplier. The project is to be conducted in four phases, starting with an 80MW plant in Kamaila area, Chibombo district of Zambia. 200 Ha land has been secured for this purpose. Phases 2 – 4 are then located in Kafue, Kasama, and Chinsale for development of an additional 70 MW, 25 MW, and 25 MW plants respectively. Justification for such site selection i.e. full solar irradiation, geographical, and engineering analysis of these areas is presented herein. The lease period pertaining to the PPA is 25 years as required by investors.
The promoter is currently in collaboration with Solar World AG, a German manufacturer of Solar PV panels and related equipment for bulk and discounted supply of such equipment. Full descriptions of licensing, quality assurance certificates and overall engineering schematics shall be presented. It is the promoter’s initiative to construct a 20 MW solar plant situated in-between Lusaka and Kabwe. The area is more specifically Kamaila area of Chibombo district, Lusaka Province. The plant to be constructed on a 200 Ha piece of land will provide urban as well as rural electrification in the most crucially populated (Lusaka, Kabwe, Kafue) cities in addition to rural areas. Furthermore, local villages in the vicinity of the plant will be given access to free electricity. The project is to employ approximately 400 people during construction, and will create 50 permanent jobs.
SITE LOCATIONS
Sites for the 80 MW, 70 MW, and 25 MW plants are described below. There will be the first site in Chibombo area, Chisamba, and pursuing to phases 2-4, in Kafue, Kasama, and Chinsale districts of Zambia. These four sites were strategically selected after an in depth analysis of geographical, meteorological and solar irradiation data around the country. Such data was obtained from the World Bank ESMAP solar Modelling report for Zambia. The World Bank ESMAP Solar Modeling report provides a highly detailed technical analysis of SIX chosen sites in Zambia. From this data, solar modeling analysis for different areas around the country may be determined. Information for the areas of Kafue and Lusaka were to be obtained from ESMAP “Lusaka” data.
Chinsale site Area: Chinsale, Northern Province Size: 100 Ha Projected PV generation capacity: 25MW Location to be confirmed.
Kasama site Area: Kasama, Northern Province Size: 100 Ha Projected PV generation capacity: 25MW Location to be confirmed.
OBJECTIVES
The key objectives of this project are as follows:
• To resolve load shedding and general power crises in the republic of Zambia.
• To increase shareholders wealth and value through profit generation by operating on a sound commercial basis.
• To have successful dealing operations and remain committed to the responsible and sustainable management of investor operations from plant construction to power supply to the national grid.
The promoter’s are convinced that this project will meet the above objectives once implemented and fully operational.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The solar power plant facility is considered a large scale long-term investment that will contribute to economic benefits to the country through provision of power supply, designed in accordance with best practice, taking into account all relevant national and internal codes and legislation. The design life of the facility will be approximately 25 years.
The impact on the environment is mainly the concern of deforestation of the area and some minor mammal relocation. As the site is only a 200 Ha city site, negative impacts are considered very minimal with regards to nationwide wide forestry and land availability. Operation of the plant is fully renewable, as 0% greenhouse gases are produced, no toxic waste such as from nuclear plants is produced, and zero gases or coals are burned in the process. As a fully renewable power plant, the promoters highly recommend the plant for the positive benefits it will offer, i.e. electricity in rural areas, decrease of load shedding times, and business and economic operations benefits.
The projects would be pure solar PV grid connected installations. The project would become operational and start generating CERs directly after the completion of the first phase of the project, with work on the other phases continuing. The project is expected to help alleviate the huge energy deficit in Zambia. It will be the first Solar PV project of its magnitude in Zambia and will be a large source of clean energy. The project implores renewable energy resources and thus has zero emissions. It will in fact contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions around the globe. Carbon credits associated with project are to be registered and sold on international markets. As the promoter is a Zambian registered company, all revenue generated abroad from carbon markets will be administered and audited in Zambia; proceeds being injected directly into the Zambian economy. The project is consistent with the regulations of the Kyoto Protocol and qualifies for the application of CDM projects.