Zambia Urges Sustainable Energy Investments Amid Power Deficit
The Ministry of Energy has urged investors to focus on sustainable electricity generation to address Zambia’s power shortage, worsened by climate-related low water levels.
Speaking in Lusaka, Permanent Secretary Peter Mumba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting energy sector investments.
This call to action came during a meeting with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which plans to develop two solar power plants in Nalolo and Lukulu districts of Western Province. These projects aim to add 600 megawatts to the national grid.
PS Mumba disclosed that Zambia’s electricity generation currently stands at 1,030 megawatts, falling significantly short of the national demand of over 2,500 megawatts.
He noted that Maamba Coal Mine contributes 300 megawatts to the grid, with an additional 300 megawatts anticipated by 2027 upon completion of ongoing projects.
Welcoming CCECC’s solar energy investments, Mumba also commended the company’s interest in coal energy exploration, describing the initiatives as vital to narrowing Zambia’s energy gap.
CCECC Managing Director Jacques Lias highlighted the company’s extensive history in Zambia, including its work on the 1,800-kilometer Tazara Railway.
He also announced a $1.4 billion investment to modernize Tazara and acquire new locomotives, enabling daily bulk cargo transportation.
Lias attributed these investments to strengthened bilateral relations between Zambia and China, fostered by President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent visit to Beijing.
The Ministry’s appeal underscores Zambia’s focus on diversifying energy sources and improving infrastructure to address its pressing power deficit sustainably.
