Zambia has commissioned its largest grid-connected solar power plant, marking a critical step in the country’s effort to diversify its energy sources and reduce its reliance on hydroelectric power. President Hakainde Hichilema officially inaugurated the 100-megawatt Chisamba Solar Power Plant on June 30, 2025, describing it as a symbol of Zambia’s energy resilience and economic renewal.

The solar plant, constructed by PowerChina and co-financed by ZESCO and Stanbic Bank Zambia, is designed to supply clean, renewable electricity directly to First Quantum Minerals—one of the country’s major copper producers. This setup helps offset pressure on the national grid, allowing ZESCO to redirect its capacity toward domestic households and businesses amid persistent drought-related power shortages.

With Zambia historically dependent on hydropower for over 80 percent of its electricity supply, the country has suffered frequent load shedding and blackouts during extended dry seasons. The launch of the Chisamba plant is a strategic response to those climate-driven disruptions. President Hichilema emphasized that the nation cannot afford to wait for the return of seasonal rains, and that solar energy must become a central part of Zambia’s future.

Construction of the plant began in 2024 and concluded in mid-2025, creating more than 1,000 jobs, many of them local. Now operational, the facility is projected to generate enough electricity annually to power tens of thousands of homes while significantly lowering Zambia’s dependence on power imports from neighboring countries.

Officials from ZESCO confirmed that the solar plant is fully integrated into the national grid via a newly completed 132kV transmission substation. The Chisamba site is also being considered for a further 100MW expansion in the near future. Zambia’s broader renewable energy roadmap aims to install at least 1,000MW of solar capacity by the end of 2025, with the government supporting both public and private investments under its Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFiT) framework.

By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com