EAGLE Canyon International Group Holding's ambitious US$13 billion plan to develop a new energy park in Mapinga is advancing slowly, as investors await the finalisation of land allocation processes before resuming implementation.
In 2022, the government, Eagle Canyon, and its Chinese counterpart, Pacific Goal Investment, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the mine-to-energy industrial park project in Mapinga, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.
This transformative project will create a hub for energy generation, transmission, and distribution, spurring economic growth, creating jobs, and helping to alleviate Zimbabwe's chronic energy shortages.
Eagle Canyon director Lionel Mhlanga told Zimbabwe Independent that the process for land allocation was still ongoing.
“As Eagle Canyon, we are trying to set up a new energy park in Mapinga, and the process for land allocation is still being handled by the Ministry of Lands,” he said.
“Once we are allocated the land, we will then move into the implementation phase. That energy park will achieve a great deal. The investment figure has not changed.”
In 2023, the government revealed that it had secured at least 500 hectares of land for the project out of the 5 000 hectares required. It stated that while the land had been identified, some of it was still occupied by farmers, who would be engaged before relocation.
The company also said it was “rapidly expanding its investments in several mining entities in Zimbabwe” and was seeking a highly competent internal controller to strengthen its finance team.
- Zim’s first energy park project progresses slowly
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The industrial park will include the construction of two 300-megawatt (MW) power stations, a coking plant, a graphite processing plant, a nickel-chromium alloy smelter, and a nickel sulphate plant. These facilities will be established on a 5 000-hectare piece of land, of which 1 000 hectares will be utilised by Eagle Canyon.
The park will also mark the beginning of the lithium-ion battery value chain in Zimbabwe. It will, therefore, position the country among the world’s producers of lithium-ion batteries. This will also contribute to the growth of a resilient, clean global energy economy.
Eagle Canyon was founded by Jun Liu in 1995, and the company specialises in the investment and development of energy, minerals, real estate, and infrastructure projects in China and Southern Africa.
