Zambia Imports Power from South Africa to Alleviate Energy Deficit
Zambia has begun importing 218 megawatts of electricity from South Africa’s Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM) during off-peak hours to address the country’s power shortage.
Matongo Maumbi, a spokesperson for Zambia’s state-owned power utility Zesco, announced on state television that the imports started on August 1 to help mitigate the power deficit.
Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, is also importing electricity from Mozambique to meet its energy demands. “The imports have allowed Zesco to stabilize the power supply, enabling us to provide electricity to critical installations such as hospitals, mines, and other industries,” Maumbi stated.
The country has faced significant power generation challenges, losing 1,000 megawatts due to a drought during the 2023–24 rainy season. This shortfall has resulted in an average of 12 hours of daily rolling blackouts for consumers.
To further support public infrastructure, Maumbi revealed that Zesco has procured 22 generators, expected to arrive within the month.
“These generators will be installed in key public institutions like hospitals, market areas, and other locations that are difficult to isolate from the national grid during load shedding,” he added.
