35 MW Selous Metallurgical Complex Zimplats Solar Plant Dust Suppression

Zimplats has run a dust suppression trial at the 80 MW Zimplats Solar Plant. The Solar Plant supplies renewable electricity to Zimplats mining and processing operations at Ngezi and Selous, and can export surplus generation to the national grid through net metering; its first phase is 35 MWac (40.5 MWp) across about 106 hectares, a 45 MW expansion under construction will raise capacity to 80 MW, and the company plans 185 MW of capacity across multiple phases with an estimated investment of USD 201 million.

The trial, delivered by Dust-A-Side, targeted dust kicked up by unpaved access roads, construction traffic and on-site vehicle movements that were contributing to airborne particulates across the site. The programme covered roughly 22,000 m2 of roads and operational areas and used a surface treatment called Dust-A-Side Black. Preparatory grading and moisture checks preceded application, and the trial deployed about 15,000 litres of product mixed with 585,000 litres of water, yielding an approximate product concentration of 2.5 percent during application from a calibrated water bowser with spray bars.

Post-treatment reporting showed visible dust generation fell substantially, road visibility improved from poor or moderate to good, and surfaces bound together to form a more cohesive wearing course. The most operationally significant outcome was a sharp drop in watering frequency; treated areas reportedly required little or no routine watering after application, which reduces water use, water-bowser movements, equipment operating hours and associated labour.

For the Solar Plant, reduced airborne dust can lower soiling on modules and the frequency of panel cleaning, outcomes the trial identified as expected contributors to improved solar radiation capture and higher electricity output. The treatment also reduces particulate exposure for exposed electrical equipment, which can ease maintenance burdens across transformers, inverters and switchgear.

The trial aligns with Zimplats' stated aims to cut carbon emissions, stabilise energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel electricity while developing on-site generation at scale. Operational savings in water, fuel and maintenance from measures such as this can affect the operating cost profile of behind-the-meter generation that supports mining load and grid exports as the company scales toward its planned 185 MW capacity and USD 201 million programme.