Government Unveils $1.5 Billion Rural Electrification Roadmap for Universal Energy Access

By Daily News Reporter 

At the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, a familiar development challenge met a renewed national ambition: how to ensure that every Zambian, regardless of location, has access to electricity.

The answer, presented during the launch of the Updated Rural Electrification Master Plan (REMP) 2025–2030, signals one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure commitments in recent years—a decisive shift toward universal electricity access by 2030.

Speaking at the Launch of the Updated Rural Electrification Master Plan (REMP), Minister of Energy Hon. Makozo Chikote described the plan as more than a technical roadmap, calling it a “national development instrument” designed to unlock economic potential and improve livelihoods across rural Zambia.

For years, Zambia’s rural electrification efforts were guided by a 51 percent access target. That benchmark has now been retired.

In its place, government has adopted a far more ambitious goal: 100 percent electricity access within the decade.

MR Chikote said that the shift reflects changing realities—rising rural populations, expanding economic activity outside urban centres, and increasing demand for energy in agriculture, education, and healthcare.

The new direction also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 7 and Zambia’s broader Vision 2030 agenda, which positions energy as a cornerstone of inclusive development.

At the centre of the updated strategy is a significant change in planning philosophy.

Instead of relying heavily on national grid expansion alone, the plan introduces a least-cost, technology-neutral approach, allowing different energy solutions to be deployed based on local conditions.

Under this model Mr Chikote highlighted the following are of focus,

Grid extension will serve viable high-demand corridors,

Mini-grids will power clustered rural settlements,

Solar home systems will reach remote and dispersed household

This flexible framework is designed to ensure efficiency, affordability, and faster delivery of electricity to underserved communities.

And Rural Electrification Authority (REA) Chief Executive Officer Mr Alex Mbumba stated that under the Rural Electrification Authority, will lead implementation using advanced geospatial mapping systems to guide investment decisions.

A standout feature of the new plan is the introduction of a dynamic geospatial planning platform, replacing static, paper-based planning models.

He also added that the system will allow authorities to Track electrification gaps in real time and update project data dynamically, Reduce duplication of infrastructure, improve targeting of investments.

He added that this marks a shift toward evidence-based, data-driven electrification planning—ensuring that resources follow need with greater precision.

And the roadmap of the project estimates that US$1.52 billion will be required between 2025 and 2030 to achieve universal access.

While the state will continue to provide leadership and regulatory oversight, the private sector is expected to play a central role in financing and implementation.

Also Mr Chikote emphasized that the plan is designed as an investment-ready roadmap, offering structured opportunities for developers, investors, and development partners.

He repeatedly stressed that electrification is not an end in itself, but a catalyst for broader development.

Expanded electricity access is expected to:

Boost rural enterprise development, Enhance agricultural productivity and value addition.

In this vision, electricity becomes the foundation for inclusive economic transformation.

The success of the plan, officials noted, will depend on collaboration across government, cooperating partners, civil society, traditional leadership, and the private sector.

The development process itself was highly consultative, involving multiple stakeholders, technical experts, and support institutions that helped refine the final framework.

Government says this inclusive approach has strengthened both the technical quality and implementation readiness of the plan.

As the launch concluded, one message stood out: Zambia’s challenge is no longer planning, but delivery.

The Updated REMP 2025–2030 now moves the country into an execution phase where success will be measured not by policy documents, but by illuminated homes, powered schools, and energized rural economies.

If achieved, the plan will mark a historic shift—transforming electricity from a privilege of geography into a universal right of citizenship in Zambia.