Powering Zambia with Smart Audits

.... A strategic initiative to reduce energy waste and ensure a more sustainable future for the country.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia – March 28, 2025 – The Zambian government is intensifying efforts to improve energy efficiency and sustainability through a nationwide push for energy audits, with the Ministry of Energy at the forefront of these efforts.

Marvin Mumba, Principal Energy Management Officer at the Ministry of Energy, underscored the pivotal role of energy audits in optimizing energy usage and fostering long-term sustainability across Zambia.

He highlighted key initiatives and encouraged academic institutions to incorporate energy audits into their curriculum.

"Energy audits are instrumental in evaluating how industries use energy,"  Mumba explained.

"Through these assessments, we identify areas where energy is being wasted, aiming to help industries enhance their energy efficiency, cut emissions, and improve their overall operations."

Mumba’s comments came during the launch of an energy audit initiative at the University of Zambia.

He further emphasized that these audits are essential for raising awareness about energy consumption patterns and identifying practical solutions to reduce waste.

"Energy audits are valuable tools for understanding energy consumption, pinpointing inefficiencies, and helping organizations implement strategies to optimize energy use," he added.

Dr. Patrick Mubanga, an engineer and representative from the Energy Audit Section of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), provided an update on the ongoing energy audit exercise.

"Today, we carried out an energy audit with students, building on last year’s efforts. In 2023, we engaged around 60 to 70 students through an awareness session on energy efficiency," he said .

"This year, we shifted focus to conducting a real-world audit to identify how the institution can reduce energy wastage," he added."

Dr. Mubanga explained that energy audits aim to find ways to conserve energy by detecting inefficiencies and recommending improvements.

"For today’s exercise, we concentrated on lighting. We took measurements and assessed the existing systems. Our findings suggest that switching from traditional fluorescent lights to LED bulbs could result in considerable savings on electricity bills paid to ZESCO."

Although the audit was not exhaustive due to time constraints, Dr. Mubanga assured that future audits would provide a more comprehensive assessment.

"We couldn’t complete a full audit across all departments today, but we plan to continue with this effort in the future to ensure a thorough evaluation."

Dr. Mubanga also discussed the potential for expanding this initiative beyond academic institutions.

"While we’re focusing on schools for now, the Ministry is interested in expanding energy efficiency awareness to the broader community," he explained

He was of the Ministry has already provided valuable equipment for this initiative, and we’re grateful for their support.

"There’s a growing recognition of the need for energy-efficient practices across all sectors, which can significantly reduce energy waste."

Eng. Chimfewbe Mutale, a member of the Energy Audit Section at the EIZ, emphasized the importance of promoting energy efficiency nationwide.

"I am part of the Energy Audit Section, where we conduct activities aimed at advancing energy efficiency across the country to promote sustainable energy use.

"The key concept behind energy efficiency is that there are always opportunities to use less energy without compromising productivity," Mutale said.

He pointed out the prevalence of energy wastage in industries and factories.

"In many industrial settings, energy is often wasted due to outdated or inefficient equipment.

According to Eng. Mutale, replacing this equipment with more energy-efficient options can significantly reduce energy consumption.

For example, Eng. Mutale explained upgrading to modern lighting technologies can lower electricity bills and enhance overall efficiency.

Eng Mutale also highlighted the financial benefits of energy efficiency.

"For businesses, cutting energy costs can free up resources that can be reinvested into expanding operations. To support this, we’re partnering with the EIZ to conduct energy audits at various facilities."

Eng Mutale went on to explain the energy audit process and its impact.

"An energy audit involves examining how energy is being used at a facility, identifying inefficiencies, and determining potential savings from energy-efficient upgrades."

He shared an example from the University of Zambia (UNZA).

For instance, Eng. Mutale said at the UNZA School of Engineering, we assess their current energy consumption.

"If they were to switch to more efficient lighting or equipment, we can estimate the savings in energy and costs,: he said.

"We also calculate the payback period, which tells us how long it will take for the investment in energy-efficient upgrades to be recovered through savings," he added.

Mutale emphasized the value of involving students in these audits, providing them with hands-on experience in energy management.

"By engaging students in these audits, we offer them practical exposure to energy management. They learn to conduct professional energy audits, use specialized equipment, and analyze data to suggest ways to improve efficiency."

He also discussed the broader benefits of energy efficiency for households and businesses.

He said Energy efficiency is not just for industries; it’s also crucial for homes and businesses. In the past, incandescent bulbs were widely used, consuming a lot of electricity.

"These have been replaced by CFL bulbs, which significantly reduce energy use. Today, LED bulbs are even more efficient, consuming just 7-8 watts compared to the 100 watts of older bulbs, leading to substantial savings."

Eng Mutale offered a practical example: "For instance, if your electricity bill for lighting was K100, switching to LEDs could bring it down to K20-K30. This simple change underscores the importance of adopting energy-efficient technologies."

Eng. Dean Musukwa, Chairperson of the Energy Auditors Sector at EIZ, highlighted the growing importance of energy audits in Zambia’s energy strategy.

He noted that energy auditors will soon be required to assess and verify industry compliance with energy efficiency regulations.

"Energy auditors will play a crucial role in ensuring industries meet government energy efficiency standards, which is vital for Zambia’s long-term energy plans."

Between 2022 and 2023, the Ministry of Energy, with support from the European Union, launched a project in Meso Village to train certified energy auditors. Musukwa, who coordinated the project, reported that 66 professionals were successfully trained.

Musukwa noted that many professionals still need to self-finance their training, which costs K2,500.

He called on the Ministry of Energy to explore more sponsorship opportunities to meet the growing demand for certified energy auditors. "The costs associated with certification can be a barrier for some individuals," he explained.

Musukwa underscored that energy auditing is a rapidly growing field with significant job market potential.

"As energy efficiency becomes more central to Zambia’s development goals, energy auditing is expected to offer numerous career opportunities."

With the government’s plan to make energy audits mandatory,

Musukwa encouraged aspiring engineers to consider energy auditing as a promising career.

"Energy auditing is a profession with significant growth potential, especially as Zambia’s energy sector continues to evolve."

Eng. Anna Banda Chandipo, Programs Coordinator for the Zambia Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Transformation (ZEEST) program, shared her team’s efforts to foster energy efficiency awareness.

"The ZEEST program is an EU-funded initiative housed within the Ministry of Energy. Its primary objective is to enhance energy efficiency in Zambia."

She added: "Given the current energy challenges, where electricity availability is a greater concern than affordability, the project aims to ensure that available electricity is used efficiently."

Chandipo discussed ZEEST's approach to engaging students and communities in promoting energy efficiency.

"As part of the program, we are engaging engineering students to help them understand the government’s efforts in energy efficiency. By promoting energy audits as a business opportunity, we aim to equip students with practical skills they can apply after graduation."

She explained that ZEEST operates across key sectors, including Policy Development, Water, Building, and Utility Management, with a primary goal of creating a legal mandate for all energy users to conduct energy audits.

Chandipo expressed optimism about the program’s long-term sustainability, stating that training trainers would ensure continued energy efficiency efforts beyond the program’s official duration, which runs until March 2026.

"We have structured it for long-term sustainability by training trainers who will continue energy efficiency initiatives even after the project ends.

Additionally, we are developing legal frameworks, including minimum energy performance standards, to institutionalize best practices."

She also highlighted the collaboration with various institutions, including ZESCO, and the progress made in training professionals in the building and water sectors.

"While we do not have an exact number of people trained so far, we have engaged professionals from the building and water sectors, Ministry of Energy officials, and members of the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ). We have also collaborated with ZESCO and other utilities to expand our reach."

With these combined efforts, Zambia is taking significant steps toward greater energy efficiency and sustainability, which could have a lasting impact on reducing energy waste and improving overall energy management across various sectors.

The ZEEST program is set to continue until March 2026, with plans to establish legal frameworks and ensure long-term sustainability through ongoing training and awareness campaigns.