Zambia approves $971.5 million in energy sector investments

Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has approved energy sector investments totaling approximately ZMW 18.4 billion ($971.5 million). The approvals, granted during a licensing committee meeting in August 2026, encompass 23 licenses and 20 construction permits across the electricity, renewable energy, and downstream petroleum sectors.

The approved projects include 11 utility-scale solar power projects and the manufacturing and supply of renewable energy equipment. In the petroleum sector, the ERB authorized 116 fuel tankers to strengthen the supply chain, alongside licenses for petroleum distribution, lubricant blending, and the construction of nine retail service stations.

These investments aim to address Zambia’s growing electricity deficit, which has been exacerbated by severe droughts reducing hydropower generation. With domestic generation falling below national demand, the government and private sector are prioritizing solar and thermal generation to support expanding mining and industrial activities.