Solar Group strengthens its presence in Africa through strategic investments and regional capabilities development

July 9, 16:30

Founded in 1995, the flagship company Solar Industries India Limited has transformed into a multi-billion dollar corporation that adheres to long-term principles of innovation, manufacturing excellence, and sustainable development. Africa has become a key element of Solar Group's global growth strategy. Since the opening of the first African operation in Tanzania in 2009, the Group has consistently expanded its influence on the continent.

This expansion was followed by the opening of operations in Zambia in 2010, Nigeria in 2011, South Africa in 2015, as well as the establishment of a structure in Ghana in 2018 and the registration of Solar Nitro Zimbabwe Private Limited in the same year. The recent acquisition of ProBlast in July 2024 further strengthened Solar Group's presence in South Africa, with further regional investments expected as part of building a robust pan-African network for providing mining services and production.

Expansion of Services in South Africa

Through strategic focus, operational excellence, and continuous investment, Solar Group positions itself as one of the largest suppliers of explosive accessories on the African continent. This strategy reflects the Group's commitment to strengthening regional manufacturing capabilities, enhancing supply chain resilience, and providing top-tier blasting solutions that support the growth and sustainability of Africa's mining industry.

In support of this concept, Solar Mining Services continues to expand its range of integrated mining services through diversification and strategic investments. The acquisition of ProBlast was a significant milestone in the company's growth strategy, as it allowed it to extend its capabilities beyond explosive supplies to include on-site rock handling services. This enables Solar Mining Services to offer more comprehensive solutions for the mining industry, supporting clients across the value chain with improved operational efficiency, flexibility, and technical expertise.

Investments in Production and Logistics

Solar continues to build its manufacturing presence in Africa through significant investments in regional production capacity. Solar Mining Services has also substantially enhanced its infrastructure in South Africa, recently completing the construction of a new explosive warehouse complex in Mpumalanga, which has significant storage capacity for accessories. This facility was created to support the company's unprecedented growth in the South African explosive accessory market, while ensuring increased supply reliability and operational efficiency for customers.

At the Group level, following the registration of Solar Nitro Zimbabwe Private Limited in 2018, the company continued to build a new production facility in Zimbabwe. This marked another important milestone in the Group's strategy for localizing production, strengthening supply chain resilience, and supporting the growth of Zimbabwe's mining industry. This facility is expected to contribute significantly to regional economic development, create jobs, and support local industrialization. The official opening will be conducted by His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe, underscoring the strategic importance of the investments for the country's mining and industrial sectors.

To further strengthen its regional growth strategy, Solar is also expanding its presence in South Africa by importing and establishing an Ammonium Nitrate (AN) storage facility in Namibia. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the company's ability to serve clients in Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia, improving logistical efficiency and ensuring a constant supply of ammonium nitrate for the needs of mining enterprises in the region.

Management Comments

According to Nick Husson, CEO of Solar Mining Services South Africa, the Group's ongoing investments reflect a long-term commitment to supporting Africa's mining industry through regional capabilities, local production, and integrated mining solutions. Husson noted: 'The acquisition of ProBlast enhances our ability to provide integrated mining services that go beyond explosive supplies by including on-site rock handling services, allowing us to deliver greater value throughout the mining lifecycle.' He added: 'With Solar Group's continued investment in manufacturing capacity, logistics infrastructure, and regional capabilities across Africa, we are building a stronger network that provides our customers with world-class products, technical expertise, and reliable service.'

These strategic investments confirm Solar Group's vision to create a sustainable pan-African network of production, distribution, and mining services that supports the sustainable development of the mining industry, strengthens local industries, and creates long-term value for the customers, partners, and communities in which it operates.

iol.co.zaJuly 6, 22:24

Power of rooftop solar panels in South Africa exceeds 8.3 GW amid energy sector changes

The popularity of rooftop solar energy in South Africa continues to grow, reaching 8.3 GW, even though the power outage problem that triggered this surge has practically disappeared.

Reasons for market growth

According to the latest data from the national transmission company Eskom, the capacity of rooftop solar installations in the country has exceeded 8.3 GW. The main driver for the shift to solar energy is now financial: significant increases in Eskom's tariffs have made solar energy more advantageous for many households and businesses compared to grid electricity.

Public surveys by Stats South Africa show that 675,000 households installed solar panels in 2025, representing an 86% increase over three years. More than two-thirds of these homes are located in the Gauteng and Western Cape provinces. Only rooftop solar installations now surpass the total operational capacity under the government's flagship renewable energy programs.

Overall picture and expert opinion

Overall, the total installed solar power in South Africa has exceeded 10 GW, cementing the country's status as the largest solar market in Africa, after approximately 1.6 GW was added last year. Marius Rudolph, a solar energy industry expert and founder of Your Solar SA, based in Gauteng, noted fundamental changes in the market.

According to Rudolph, South Africans no longer view solar panels solely as a backup solution. They have transformed into an investment in financial freedom, energy security, and long-term sustainability. He emphasized that every installation means a family or business is taking control of its future.

Customers who previously installed solar panels just to survive outages are now focused on reducing monthly bills, protecting against future tariff hikes, and increasing the value of their properties. Rudolph noted the evolution of customer demands: they now ask how to maximize savings, integrate battery systems, and secure the future of their homes, viewing solar energy as a sound financial as well as an energy decision.

Regulatory steps and public reaction

Meanwhile, Eskom has begun the process of integrating the wave of private installations into the regulatory system. The company extended the waiver of registration fees for small systems up to 50 kVA until September 30, canceling connection fees and providing a free smart meter—valued at up to R10,000 for urban customers and R36,000 for rural ones. Agnes Mlambe, executive director of the current Eskom distribution working group, stated: 'We recognize the vital role customers play in South Africa's energy transition. Our goal is to ensure that installations are safe, compliant, and aligned with the protection of the national grid.'

The energy regulator Nersa clarified that registration is not intended to impede the use of solar energy but rather to ensure systems are connected in a way that protects the national grid. However, some public groups express skepticism, questioning why households that invested in solar energy during the energy crisis must now face bureaucratic hurdles.

Industry analysts predict further market growth until 2026, driven by falling technology costs, improved financing options, and sustained tariff pressure. Rudolph concluded that this shift is permanent, asserting that renewable energy is no longer the future, but the present, and that South Africans have demonstrated incredible resilience by making solar energy a shining example of how innovation can solve real problems and create value for future generations.

business-standard.comJune 27, 18:08

Uttar Pradesh Chief lays foundation stone for SAEL solar manufacturing complex worth 8200 crore rupees

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, laid the cornerstone on Friday for the project to manufacture solar cells and modules by SAEL, which is valued at 8200 crore rupees. This complex will be integrated and cover an area of 200 acres in the YEIDA industrial zone in Gautam Buddha Nagar.

Project Scale and Goals

The facility is designed as an integrated production site with a capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW) for solar cells and 5 GW for solar modules. SAEL stated that this 10 GW integrated production ecosystem will strengthen the resilience of India's solar energy supply chain amid growing demand for domestic products. The project is also aimed at creating approximately 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Regional Vision and Energy Plans

Speaking at the event, Adityanath stated that Uttar Pradesh has set a goal to generate 20 GW of renewable energy over the next two to three years, and that the Jiwar district should become a hub for solar production in India. He noted that under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana program, electricity bills for 600,000 families in the state have been reduced to 60 percent, indicating the growing popularity of solar energy in Uttar Pradesh.

According to Adityanath, after commissioning, the plant will produce high-efficiency TOPCon solar cells and modules using advanced technologies. He emphasized that solar energy technologies, in which India previously depended on China and other countries, will now be developed in Jiwar.

State Infrastructure Development

Furthermore, the Chief Minister mentioned that the government has laid the foundation for a new electronics manufacturing enterprise being established jointly by the Indian group Amber and Korea Circuits. He also announced plans for the development of a cyber town, a textile city, world-class universities, and a theme park, predicting that this region will become India's largest logistics hub.

State Investments and Achievements

Sukbir Singh, Co-founder and Director of SAEL, noted that Uttar Pradesh is rapidly moving towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy, and the company plans to increase its investment in the state to 20,000 crore rupees by 2029–2030. Adityanath also highlighted that due to the implementation of the Ethanol Blending Policy, Uttar Pradesh has become the largest ethanol producer in the country, ensuring self-sufficiency for the sugar industry, as nearly 55 percent of national ethanol production comes only from Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, the state aims to establish 100 Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants within the next year.

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