ZESCO Unveils Raft of Energy Infrastructure Projects Including Presidential Solar Directive

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for ZESCO, the state-owned energy company, revealed insights into several forthcoming projects including a Presidential Solar Directive which aims to provide renewable power to 130,000 Zambian households.

This information was divulged by Charles Kaisala, a board member at ZESCO who also serves as the UPND’s energy policy chairman. He was speaking on Tuesday at a party event in Lusaka.

The Solar Directive, pushed for by the government, would see a rapid expansion of household rooftop panel installation, as well as a hospital solarisation programme that would greatly improve access to high-tech energy-intensive healthcare. ZESCO is currently coordinating the financing for the initiative, which is expected to require $500 million in investment.

Moreover, Kaisala detailed ZESCO’s broader policy priorities, which principally concern energy diversification. He noted that 84% of Zambia’s power comes from hydroelectric sources, leaving the country susceptible to changes in rainfall patterns. These weaknesses were brutally exposed during last year’s drought.

In response, ZESCO has earmarked Luapula Province for significant investment into green energy infrastructure, recommenced planning for coal power projects, and expanded regional energy sourcing, particularly from neighbouring Mozambique.

Better energy sourcing has proved crucial for lowering government expenditure by reducing reliance on imports; since the drought, the government’s monthly expenses on energy imports have reduced by $45 million.

Kaisala insisted that these initiaives, while expensive and ambitious, are in line with the government’s manifesto commitments to strengthen Zambia’s energy sector. Among these ambitions is to enhance Zambia’s role within regional energy trade; evidenced by TAZAMA pipeline.