Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc, in partnership with InnoVent SAS, has been awarded two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects of 20MW each in a highly-competitive international tender under the GET FiT Zambia programme.

In a joint-statement availed by both CEC and InnoVent SAS, the two entities were awarded the two projects during a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Energy’s Get FiT Zambia programme.

GET FiT Zambia is a Zambian government programme established to facilitate private sector investment in small and medium-scale renewable energy independent power projects.

According to the statement, GET FiT Zambia awarded six solar PV projects totalling 120MW in what was described as the largest single solar PV tender implemented in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa.

CEC, the only Zambian company in the awarded consortia, formed a joint-venture partnership with French firm InnoVent SAS and submitted two proposals to develop two projects of 20MW each in Kitwe.

InnoVent SAS creates, builds and runs solar and wind power plants in France and Africa.

Following the announcement, CEC managing director Owen Silavwe hailed landmark development, saying the outcome of the bid would give the company further impetus to enhance its objective of making sustainable and affordable energy available in Zambia.

“The success of both our project proposals in such a rigorous and internationally-competitive auction process demonstrates the commitment and abilities of CEC to forge world-class partnerships and compete successfully at the highest level. This gives further impetus to our ambition to enhance our contribution to the objective of making available sustainable and affordable energy in our country and to the development of a diversified energy portfolio mix predicated on clean energy sources,” stated Silavwe.

He expressed excitement at the fact that CEC remained a true partner in Zambia’s energy infrastructure development, where the company continued to provide relevant and valuable local content, maximizing benefits to the country in terms of economic welfare, technology and knowledge transfer, among others.

CEC and its partner, InnoVent SAS, will develop the Garneton North and South sites, both situated in Kitwe, on an IPP (Independent Power Producer) basis to produce power at a cost of US $4.80/kWh.

GET FiT was designed to assist the Zambian government in the implementation of its Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFiT) strategy.

The programme is a partnership between the Department of Energy in the Ministry of Energy and the German Development Bank, KfW.