FROM STABILISATION TO 10,000 MEGAWATTS – ZAMBIA WIRES ITS GROWTH AMBITION

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA – Zambia’s ambition to become a major regional economic powerhouse is increasingly dependent on one critical resource: reliable electricity.

From expanding copper production and boosting agricultural output to attracting investment in manufacturing, the country’s development plans hinge on its ability to generate and deliver sufficient power to meet growing demand.

But achieving the Government’s target of 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity by 2031 will require an estimated US$12 billion in investment across the energy value chain.

The scale of the financing needed highlights both the challenge facing Zambia and the opportunities available to investors willing to participate in the country’s energy transformation.

Speaking when he officially opened the second edition of the PowerElect Zambia International Exhibition and Conference 2026 in Lusaka, Ministry of Energy Director Mafayo Ziba said the country was transitioning from economic stabilisation towards accelerated growth.

Representing the Permanent Secretary responsible for Electricity, Mr Zimba said the Government’s Growth Zambia Agenda had established ambitious but measurable targets intended to expand production across key sectors of the economy.

“Today Zambia is moving from a period of stabilization towards a phase of accelerated growth. Our Growth Zambia agenda provides a clear set of measurable national targets,” he said.

Among the targets is increasing electricity generation capacity to 10,000MW by 2031, alongside raising maize production to 10 million tonnes, copper production to three million tonnes and tourist arrivals to five million.

The agenda also includes producing three million tonnes of soya beans, one million tonnes each of wheat and sugar, and reaching one billion cans of beef exports by 2030.

These ambitions place electricity at the heart of Zambia’s economic transformation, as industries require dependable power to expand production, create employment and remain competitive.

Zambia has made progress towards its electricity generation ambitions, with Mr Zimba reporting that capacity had increased from approximately 3,777MW in 2025 to about 4,777MW at the time of the conference.

“We have increased our generation capacity from about 3,777 in 2025 to currently at about 4,777, so that is how we are approaching towards our ten thousand megawatts target and we believe that it's achievable,” he said.

The increase demonstrates progress, but reaching 10,000MW will require a substantial expansion of generation infrastructure and investment in the transmission and distribution networks needed to move electricity to consumers.

Mr Zimba said the estimated US$12 billion investment requirement covered the entire energy value chain, opening opportunities for investors in power generation, transmission and distribution.

“If you are an investor coming to Zambia and you are wondering whether there is going to be demand, whether there is going to be a market for your investment, the growth in the agriculture sector, the growth in the mining sector, there is demand for electricity,” he said.

The message was clear: Zambia needs more than additional power plants. It needs the infrastructure and investment to ensure that electricity reaches the businesses, industries and communities that require it.

For decades, hydropower has played a central role in Zambia’s electricity supply. However, changing weather patterns and climate variability have strengthened the case for diversifying the country’s energy sources.

And ZARENA Board Member Dr Chilala Kakoma Bowa said Zambia had reached a turning point that required a shift in how electricity was generated and delivered.

“For over half a century, our economic engine relied on a single hydropower solution and now we have entered into a paradigm shift, a technological transformation that needs us to be more innovative and think beyond hydro generation only,” she said.

Her remarks underscored the importance of reducing overdependence on hydropower and developing a more resilient electricity system capable of responding to changing climatic conditions.

Dr Bowa called for hybrid energy systems, decentralised generation and digital integration, including utility-scale solar photovoltaic installations supported by long-duration battery energy storage and smart-grid technology.

Solar energy offers an opportunity to broaden the country’s energy mix, while battery storage can help ensure that electricity generated during periods of strong sunlight remains available when demand rises.

“Transitioning our power system is no longer a theoretical debate, it is an engineering and economic imperative,” she said.

The shift towards diversified energy sources could also attract new investors and technology providers seeking opportunities in renewable energy, storage systems and modern grid infrastructure.

Meanwhile Africa GreenCo Head of Business Development for Zambia, Dr Chikoma Kazunga, said renewable energy was becoming increasingly competitive, but the ability to deliver electricity when it was needed remained a major consideration.

“Renewables are now the cheapest new power that we can bring online, but we need to be able to move much of that power to when it is needed most and that is the role that storage can play in the energy transition,” she said.

Energy storage can help address the intermittent nature of solar generation by storing electricity when production exceeds immediate demand and releasing it when required.

For Zambia, combining renewable generation with storage could help strengthen supply reliability while supporting the country's efforts to diversify its electricity sources.

Mr Zimba said the Government was continuously reforming the regulatory environment to encourage independent power producers, off-grid developers and technology manufacturers.

Such reforms are important in attracting private-sector participation, particularly as the country seeks to mobilise billions of dollars for energy infrastructure.

The second edition of the PowerElect Zambia International Exhibition and Conference brought together approximately 125 international and domestic exhibitors, offering a platform for investors, manufacturers and policymakers to explore opportunities in the energy sector.

Exhibitions and Trade Services India Private Limited Chief Executive Officer Digvijay Singh said the event had attracted participants from Zambia, South Africa, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and other markets.

“Energy is the foundation of any economic growth. It powers industry, businesses, infrastructure and communities. This exhibition is about connecting people and creating opportunities,” Mr Singh said.

Mr Zimba described the conference as an action-oriented platform intended to connect global technological innovation with Zambian enterprises.

He commended the organisers for developing partnerships that could facilitate foreign direct investment, technology transfer and joint-venture manufacturing.

The exhibition provides an opportunity for companies to identify partners, showcase technologies and explore projects in renewable energy, power generation, storage and electricity distribution.

Kiyona Energy Chief Executive Officer Clement Siame said distributed generation could help reduce transmission losses and strengthen energy security by producing electricity closer to where it is consumed.

He said the company was operating a 2MW plant in Western Province serving approximately 74,000 residents and had a pipeline of about 90MW in distributed generation capacity.

“Are we simply seeking to generate more electricity or are we rethinking how we deliver electricity to where it's needed? Our mission in the next three to five years is to expand distributed generation,” Mr Siame said.

Distributed generation can complement large power stations by supporting local electricity supply, particularly in areas where extending conventional transmission infrastructure may be challenging.

Its contribution will depend on the successful development of proposed projects, their integration into the wider electricity system and the establishment of sustainable financing arrangements.

Zambia’s target of 10,000MW by 2031 represents a major undertaking that will require coordinated investment in generation, transmission, distribution, storage and emerging energy technologies.

The estimated US$12 billion requirement highlights the importance of attracting private capital while creating a regulatory environment that supports innovation and long-term investment.

For households, farmers, mining companies and manufacturers, the ultimate measure of success will not simply be the number of megawatts generated, but whether electricity becomes more reliable, accessible and affordable.

As PowerElect Zambia 2026 brings together international technology providers and local stakeholders, the challenge is to convert investment discussions into functioning projects and infrastructure.