Construction Of 600MW Floating Solar Plant On Lake Kariba Scheduled For 2026

Zimbabwe has announced plans to begin construction of a 600MW floating solar power plant on Lake Kariba in the second quarter of 2026.

Speaking to the media during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday, 9 December, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said the solar facility is intended to supplement the country’s hydropower output from the Kariba Power Station. He said:

“The Kariba Floating Solar Power Plant is an initiative to generate 600 megawatts on Lake Kariba through private sector investment.

“The solar power generation is meant to augment hydropower supplies from Kariba Power Station, which has encountered fluctuations due to recurring hydrological constraints and declining lake levels.”

Muswere said that the 600MW project will be rolled out in three phases over five years, beginning with a 150MW first phase. He added that phase one is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2026.

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