| Bangweulu Solar Power Station | |
| Location Map Caption: | Bangweulu Solar Power Station |
| Coordinates: | -15.5117°N 28.4317°W |
| Country: | Zambia |
| Location: | Kafue District, Lusaka Province |
| Status: | O |
| Commissioned: | 11 March 2019 |
| Cost: | US$60 million |
| Owner: | Bangweulu Power Company Limited |
| Operator: | Bangweulu Power Company Limited |
| Th Fuel Primary: | Solar |
| Ps Electrical Capacity: | 54MW |
Bangweulu Solar Power Station (BSPS), is a 54MW solar power plant in Zambia. The solar farm that was commercially commissioned in March 2019, was developed and is owned by a consortium comprising Neoen, a French IPP, Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (IDC Zambia), a government parastatal company and First Solar, a US-based solar panel manufacturer. The power station cost US$60 million to develop.[1] [2]
The power plant is located in the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone,[2] in Kafue District, in Lusaka Province, approximately 25km (16miles), by road, southeast of the central business district of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia and the largest city in that country. BSPS its on 52ha of real estate.[3] The geographical coordinates of Bangweulu Solar Power Station are 15°30'42.0"S, 28°25'54.0"E (Latitude:-15.511667; Longitude:28.431667), just north of the Ngonye Solar Power Station.
The Government of Zambia, through IDC Zambia, working with the World Bank Group, as part of the bank's program "Scaling Solar", awarded the tender to develop this power station to Neoen, a French independent power producer. The American solar panel manufacturer First Solar Inc. was selected to manufacture and supply the solar panels for the power station.[1] [2] [4]
The power generated here is purchased by Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) under a 25-year power purchase agreement executed between ZESCO and Neoen at US$0.0602 per kWh.[1] [2] [4]
This power station is owned by a consortium whose members are illustrated in the table below. The members of the consortium formed a special purpose vehicle company Bangweulu Power Company Limited, which operates and maintains the power station.[1] [2] [4]
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This renewable energy infrastructure development project received a grant of US$2 million, from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).[5]
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (formerly OPIC, now DFC), jointly lent US$39 million to the consortium of owner/developers of BSPS.[3]
The EPC contract was awarded to Sterling & Wilson, an engineering and Construction company, based in India. Construction started in December 2017, with commercial commissioning taking place in March 2019.[1] [2] [3]