Zambia solar power expansion

In late July 2026 Zambia inaugurated the 100 MW Chisamba II Solar Power Plant, doubling the Chisamba complex to 200 MW and aiming to reduce reliance on strained hydroelectric generation. The project, opened by President Hakainde Hichilema, was presented as a step toward cleaner, more reliable electricity for households, industry and mining, and previewed a forthcoming C&I Energy + Storage Summit.

Two days later, officials reported that Zambia’s installed solar capacity had risen to about 841 MW, around 18 % of the national generation mix. The growth follows 2023 regulatory reforms that opened transmission and distribution networks to private producers and introduced a digital licensing system. Ongoing projects—including the 196 MW Itimpi plant, the 200 MW Chisamba complex, a 50 MW Mabumba plant, and a newly approved 500 MW solar project by EnerSynk—are driving progress toward the country’s target of 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. A net‑metering programme launched in July 2024 now supplies over 30 MW of grid‑connected power.