UK energy company BB Energy, through its subsidiary Solarcentury Africa, has commissioned the 25 MWp Mailo Solar Power Plant in Zambia. This project marks the first fully operational SAPP merchant solar facility actively trading renewable electricity through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). It is a milestone for both the company and the SAPP platform.
According to BB Energy, the completion of the Mailo project represents the company’s entry into renewable energy trading and power trading. Building on this milestone, BB Energy aims to secure new financing to support its ambitious plan of deploying over 500 MWp of power projects across Southern Africa.
“Mailo is a landmark for our Group. It’s the first time we are delivering renewable power generation, trading electricity in a regional market, and financing clean energy assets — all with the same agility and pace that define our conventional business,” said Mohamed Bassatne, the Group CEO of BB Energy.
“This is not just an investment in solar — it is a strategic evolution of BB Energy, and a tangible step forward in our transition journey,” added Bassatne.
The Mailo solar plant, located on 204 hectares in the Mailo Chiefdom, has now begun delivering over 60 GWh of clean power annually, enough to supply 25,000 homes and displace over 2,000,000 tonnes of CO₂ over its lifetime.
“We are thrilled to witness this historic milestone for SAPP, as Solarcentury Africa commissions the first dedicated merchant solar power plant to trade power on the platform. This achievement marks a significant step towards accelerating renewable energy generation and advancing sustainable power trading across the region,” said Eng. Stephen Dihwa, Executive Director, SAPP.
BB Energy has commenced construction on Mailo Phase 2 (35 MWp), with the site’s capacity set to increase to 60 MWp within the next few months. The full expansion to 118 MWp (Mailo Final Phase) is expected by 2027.
Alongside Mailo, construction is also progressing on Gerus Solar PV in Namibia. Together, these two plants mark the start of Solarcentury Africa’s planned 500 MWp merchant solar portfolio, focused on building flexible, financeable renewable generation assets across the SADC region.
BB Energy has secured a USD 40 million loan from Standard Bank to finance Mailo Phase 2 — the first dedicated energy transition loan facility for the Group. This financing is also part of a broader framework to support the rollout of Solarcentury Africa’s merchant portfolio.
Additionally, Standard Bank has joined BB Energy’s Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) for the first time in 2025, signalling growing institutional confidence and alignment with the Group’s strategic direction.
“We are grateful to Standard Bank for its trust and partnership. Their support is an important endorsement of both the Mailo facility and our wider renewable energy plans. We are building a serious, scalable merchant power business, and this financing is a cornerstone of that effort,” said Jacques Erni, Group CFO of BB Energy.
