Solar minigrids in Zambia: Ignite Energy Access, an Abu Dhabi-based, Africa-focused off-grid energy provider, has commissioned 15 new solar mini-grids in rural Zambia under EU-backed Electricity and Renewable Energy Production (IAEREP). These facilities are part of a broader pipeline of 60 minigrids being developed by the company, and are expected to provide electricity to thousands of homes, schools, health facilities, and small businesses. Ignite said these projects will help drive socio-economic growth across rural Zambia. It plans to add 30 additional minigrids by early 2026, eventually contributing to the country’s 1,000-minigrid program to increase electrification in rural communities. Ignis Power acquired ENGIE Energy Access to form Ignite Energy Access in September 2025.
132 MW solar project in Tunisia: France’s Voltalia has won the rights to develop the 132 MW Wadi Solar Project in Tunisia. The project will come up in the Gabès region in the southeast of the country. It will be located closer to the 139 MW Menzel Habib Solar Project that it won in March 2025. Construction on the Wadi project is scheduled to begin in 2027 for commissioning in 2028. With this project, Voltalia says its total capacity of projects set to enter construction in the country has reached nearly 400 MW.
Solar for mining: Zimbabwe-based platinum mining group Karo Platinum Holdings is planning the development of a 30 MW solar power plant to back its mining operations in the country’s Mhondoro Ngezi. While grid-supplied power will remain the mine’s primary electricity source, the solar project will complement it. It targets to launch first ore production in H1 2027 under Phase I, which is expected to cost $543 million. Phase I itself is expected to require around 30 MW of power for platinum mining and processing. The mine’s total installed power demand for the full plant is estimated at 27 MW, with the milling circuit alone accounting for roughly 11 MW of consumption, local media reports stated, referring to the company spokesperson.
Grant for solar projects: AXIAN Energy has secured a nearly $1 million grant from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to advance its renewable energy project portfolio across Africa. It will support the company’s early-stage development of new solar projects in Zambia, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone, contributing to technical and environmental studies, as well as overall project structuring. These developments are part of AXIAN’s total target of 2 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, with a strong focus on large-scale solar and hydropower infrastructure.
Tracker order for Bisha Solar Project order: GameChange Solar will supply its solar trackers for the 1.29 GW Bisha Solar PV Plant in Saudi Arabia. It will supply its Genius Tracker 1P system for the project, which features SmartStow, PowerBoost, and WeatherSmart technologies designed to perform in high-wind and high temperature conditions. The Bisha Solar Project in the Asir province is being developed by ACWA Power, which has hired L&T as the EPC partner. GameChange says, with this contract, its collaboration with L&T now exceeds 2 GW. It adds that it is able to support large-scale solar projects in Saudi Arabia with its 6 GW annual production capacity in the country (see GameChange Solar Doubling Saudi Arabia Output To 6 GW). L&T has also roped in Nextpower for 2.25 GW solar tracker supply for the Bisha project (see Middle East Solar PV News Snippets).
