BEYOND THE POWER CRISIS — ZAMBIA TURNS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY, INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA — For a farmer seeking to irrigate crops through a dry season, a small business struggling with electricity costs, or a household looking for a reliable power supply, energy is more than a technical issue. It is the difference between an opportunity realised and one lost.

As Zambia confronts the consequences of climatic shocks and electricity generation deficits, the search for dependable, affordable and sustainable energy solutions is becoming increasingly urgent.

Against this backdrop, the second edition of Power & Elec Zambia 2026 is positioning itself as a marketplace for technologies, investment and partnerships that could help reshape the country's energy landscape.

And this year’s 2^nd edition is scheduled for October 28 to 30 at the New Government Complex Conference Centre along Independence Avenue in Lusaka, the exhibition and conference will bring together more than 125 companies from Zambia and international markets, including China, India, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

The conference is organised by ETSIPL of India in partnership with the Zambia Renewable Energy Association (ZARENA), will showcase technologies spanning solar power, renewable energy, battery energy storage, transformers, electrical infrastructure, wires and cables, smart grids and electric mobility.

Speaking during the media engagement in Lusaka ETSIPL Chief Executive Officer Mr.  Vijayanka Brighuvanshi said the exhibition was established to create a meeting point where Zambian businesses and international companies could explore commercial opportunities and establish lasting partnerships.

“When we started working on this exhibition, the idea was quite simple. We wanted to create a place where Zambian businesses and international companies could actually meet, do business and explore opportunities together,” Brighuvanshi said.

Mr Brighuvanshi said Zambia offered significant opportunities in solar energy, energy storage, electrical infrastructure, renewable energy and electric mobility.

However, taking advantage of those opportunities requires more than the availability of technology. It also requires investment, market knowledge, technical expertise and partnerships capable of translating innovations into solutions that meet local needs.

Mr Brighuvanshi said ETSIPL wanted to build a platform that would grow alongside Zambia's energy market rather than organise a one-off event.

“We want this to become a place where an international company can come and say, ‘I want to enter the Zambian market.’ And equally, where a Zambian company can come and say, ‘I want to find the right technology or partner for my business,’” he said.

For local enterprises, such connections could open avenues for technology acquisition, technical training and commercial partnerships. For international companies, they could provide opportunities to understand the Zambian market and identify potential local partners.

And ZARENA Board chairman Professor Joseph Mutale said Zambia needed to accelerate efforts to diversify its energy mix and strengthen the infrastructure required to deliver electricity reliably to consumers.

He said the country's first Integrated Resource Plan provided a blueprint for investment in a least-cost and resilient electricity supply system.

Recent climatic shocks have underscored the risks of relying heavily on vulnerable sources of electricity generation, reinforcing the need to develop alternative sources while improving transmission and distribution infrastructure.

“It is time to take aggressive action to diversify the energy mix and build robust electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure to deliver power securely and reliably to end users,” Professor Mutale said.

Zambia has substantial renewable energy resources, including hydropower, solar, biomass and wind. Yet, as Professor Mutale observed, natural resources alone cannot drive economic transformation.

Solar power and battery energy storage are particularly relevant to discussions about diversification because they offer options for generating electricity and storing energy for use when required.

 

For households and businesses, suitable solar and storage systems could provide alternatives to conventional electricity supply, depending on their costs, capacity and installation requirements.

 

The energy challenge is not only about increasing electricity generation. It is also about ensuring that more Zambians can access and use electricity productively.

Professor Mutale also highlighted the importance of the off-grid sector, noting that about half of Zambia's population lives in rural areas and that approximately 75 per cent of people without access to electricity live in rural communities.

He said the updated Rural Electrification Master Plan, launched earlier this year, outlined pathways towards universal access through renewable energy-based mini-grids, solar home systems and conventional grid connections, subject to adequate funding.

He further said that ZARENA its mission includes accelerating renewable energy adoption, supporting rural communities and promoting productive use of energy in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and ETSIPL India.

Meanwhile Ministry of Energy, Senior Energy Economist Evans Ngalande said the country needed immediate and practical diversification in response to climatic shocks and electricity generation deficits.

                                                                              Evans Ngalande 

He said the ministry was working to promote an enabling regulatory environment that supports independent power producers, expands solar irrigation, accelerates mini-grid development and encourages decentralised energy systems.

But Mr Ngalande stressed that policy alone could not deliver the required transformation without investment, technology and effective implementation.

“What makes the second edition so significant is its timing and practical focus. It is not merely an event to display products; it is a dedicated B2B marketplace built to connect international technology providers with local Zambian businesses, engineers, contractors and project developers,” he said.

Professor Mutale said the exhibition should also be judged by its contribution to local economic participation.

He said the platform had broadened its focus to include local manufacturing partnerships, capacity-building opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs, and practical energy solutions for households and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Businesses can participate in equipment distribution, installation, maintenance, engineering services and the supply of electrical components. Young people can benefit from technical training and exposure to emerging technologies, while local companies can explore partnerships with international manufacturers.

Professor Mutale urged journalists to connect technological developments with the everyday needs of citizens, farmers, entrepreneurs and students.

Whether the subject is solar-powered irrigation, battery storage for a home or training opportunities for an engineering student, public understanding will be important in helping people identify suitable solutions. 

HANCHU ESS is the title sponsor, with Felicity Solar as platinum sponsor. MY SOLAR and Ignite Energy Access are gold sponsors, while Africab Zambia is the silver sponsor. Elsewedy Electric Zambia, ZAMEFA and CBI Electric are bronze sponsors, with BYD and E-City Charging supporting the electric vehicle segment. SADC Mining & Construction News is the media partner.

                                                             Ms. Namwinga Namusamba

And BYD General Manager Ms. Namwinga Namusamba added that this exhibition comes at a time when Zambia is seeking to strengthen energy security, expand electricity access and mobilise investment in alternative energy sources and supporting infrastructure.

Zambia's energy future will not be secured by exhibitions alone. It will depend on the decisions, investments and partnerships that follow.

But if Power & Elec Zambia succeeds in connecting the right people with the right opportunities, the three-day gathering could become a meaningful step towards a more diversified, resilient and inclusive energy sector.