Zambia Tackles Power Challenges with Ambitious Solar Expansion

President Hakainde Hichilema has outlined aggressive plans to address Zambia's power shortages through a major shift towards renewable energy, announcing that over 740 megawatts of new solar capacity will come online within the next 12 months.

Speaking during the Fifth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, President Hichilema acknowledged the severe impact of power outages on citizens and businesses. "We feel the pain and frustration of power outages faced by our citizens which include our families, friends and loved ones. No one has been spared," he stated.

The country's dependence on hydroelectric power has exposed vulnerabilities to climate change. "Our over dependence on hydro-electric power which currently stands at 85 percent of our energy mix has exposed our vulnerability to climate change," the President explained.

Recent completions include the 100-megawatt Chisamba Solar Phase-1 project and the 94-megawatt Copperbelt Energy Corporation Itimpi Solar Power Station. Construction has also begun on the 300-megawatt Maamba thermal power plant phase-2 expansion.

"The new solar projects that will be commissioned over the next 12 months will generate a confirmed total of 740 megawatts," Hichilema announced. These projects span seven provinces where "the levels of solar energy are most suitable."

The President revealed that "there are numerous private sector driven projects that are currently in development that will take our new solar power generation capacity beyond our target of 1,000 megawatts, over the next 12 months."

Zambia has committed to delivering 10 gigawatts by 2030 under the Mission-300 initiative, contributing to providing electricity access to "300 million Africans, including 3.2 million of our unserved Zambians."

"Clearly tackling the challenge of loadshedding is currently the top priority of this government," Hichilema emphasized.