Zambia Commissions 100 MW Solar Plant

Key Figures & Findings: President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned Zambia’s largest grid-connected solar power plant in Chisamba, a project that underscores the country’s ambition to diversify its energy mix beyond hydropower. The 100 MW plant, built by Chinese construction giant PowerChina, is part of a public-private framework led by GreenCo Power Services, which signed a 13-year PPA with KNBEPC—a ZESCO subsidiary—facilitating commercial power delivery to First Quantum Minerals (FQM), one of Zambia’s largest mining firms. This setup, which avoided sovereign guarantees or public borrowing, reflects a growing appetite for market-based energy models in sub-Saharan Africa.

Statistics & Insights: The project secured $71.5 million in commercial debt from Stanbic Bank Zambia. The plant supplies clean energy to FQM and helps free up domestic grid capacity for ZESCO consumers.

Future Implications: If the planned second phase proceeds, capacity at the Chisamba site could double to 200 MW, positioning Zambia as a regional leader in utility-scale solar by 2027. The model could also catalyse similar projects as droughts continue to strain hydro-reliant systems in the region.

Source: english.news.cn