Indian conglomerate Nava Limited has announced the commissioning of a 100 MW solar project in Zambia through its subsidiary Maamba Solar Energy Limited (MSEL). Located in the Sinazongwe district of Zambia's southern province, the Maamba solar energy project is connected to the national grid. Nava holds a 65% stake in MSEL, with Zambia's ZCCM Investments Holding covering the remaining 35%.
The project operates under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Zambia's national power utility ZESCO, covering the entire output of the 100 MW plant. Nava disclosed in May 2025 that MSEL signed the agreement at a tariff of $0.078/kWh. Total investment reached around $90 million, financed via debt and equity from both Nava and ZCCM. In a statement, Nava described the commissioning as "a strategic milestone for the group's formal entry into utility-scale renewable energy," adding that it represents "a deliberate diversification strategy" positioning the group for future renewables ventures.
The Maamba plant is the latest in a series of large-scale solar sites to begin operating in Zambia. In May, the 136 MW Itimpi II plant entered operation, and in July ZESCO doubled the capacity of its Chisamba solar power plant from 100 MW to 200 MW. Recent Ministry of Energy figures put Zambia's operational solar capacity at 841 MW, while the Africa Solar Industry Association has identified 1.33 GW of operational solar projects, 539 MW of which is listed as commercial and industrial projects. This activity reflects an ongoing market liberalisation that is making Zambia one of Africa's most active solar markets for private sector developers.
What remains unclear from the single source is the project's actual generation performance, grid integration details, and whether the $0.078/kWh tariff will prove financially sustainable over the 20-year term. The dossier does not specify the commissioning date, construction timeline, or how the debt and equity split between Nava and ZCCM was structured. Additionally, while Nava frames the project as a platform for future renewables ventures, no specific follow-on projects or geographies are identified in the available evidence.