Zambia Advances $500 Million Solar Energy Drive to Power 130,000 Homes
ZESCO, Zambia’s state-owned energy utility, has announced a series of upcoming initiatives aimed at boosting renewable energy and improving national energy resilience. Central to these efforts is a Presidential Solar Directive designed to provide clean energy to 130,000 households across the country.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Charles Kaisala, a ZESCO board member and energy policy chairman for the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), during a party event held in Lusaka.
The directive, championed by the government, focuses on accelerating rooftop solar panel installations and introducing a solarisation programme for hospitals.
This healthcare-focused effort is expected to significantly improve access to modern, energy-intensive medical technologies.
The overall initiative is estimated to require an investment of $500 million, with ZESCO currently working to secure the necessary financing.
Kaisala also outlined ZESCO’s broader strategic priorities, emphasizing the need for energy diversification.
Currently, 84% of Zambia’s electricity is generated from hydroelectric sources, making the country vulnerable to climate-related disruptions, as starkly demonstrated by last year’s drought.
In response, ZESCO is directing major green energy investments to Luapula Province, revisiting plans for coal-fired power generation, and expanding electricity imports—particularly from Mozambique—to strengthen regional energy partnerships.
These measures have already begun to yield financial benefits. Since the drought, government spending on energy imports has dropped by $45 million per month, thanks to improved sourcing strategies.
Kaisala affirmed that while the initiatives are costly and ambitious, they align with the government’s manifesto to modernize and secure Zambia’s energy sector.
A key goal is to increase Zambia’s role in regional energy trade, highlighted by infrastructure such as the TAZAMA pipeline.
