The construction of a 15-megawatt (MW) thermal power plant by Sabi Star Lithium Mine in Buhera District, Manicaland Province, is nearing completion, with commissioning expected by the end of this quarter, according to a senior official.
Until now, the mine has relied on a diesel-powered generator to meet its energy needs, resulting in monthly costs of around US$1 million. The new thermal power station, valued at approximately US$25 million, aims to reduce the mine’s reliance on the national grid, which has been strained by limited electricity generation capacity.
Sabi Star Mine Manager, Engineer Oswald Makonese, expressed optimism about the project’s progress. “We are on track to commission the thermal power plant within this quarter, specifically by March 31,” he said. “The project is now about 95 percent complete.”
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Construction of the plant began in 2023 and is designed to supply the mine with its required 12MW of power. The surplus 3MW will be fed into the national grid to benefit the surrounding community.
The transition from diesel generators to the thermal power station is expected to significantly cut operational costs. “Currently, we’re spending close to US$1 million every month on running the diesel generators,” Eng. Makonese noted.
Sabi Star is owned by Max Mind Investments (Zimbabwe) Private Limited, a subsidiary of Shenzhen Chengxin Lithium Group, a Chinese firm. The mine began as an exploration project in 2015 and reached a bankable feasibility study in 2021, with initial construction starting in 2022.
The mine’s current resource estimate provides a lifespan of seven years, but ongoing exploration efforts aim to extend its operational life, potentially doubling it.
