Fuel Security

Zambia Builds Bigger Reserves as Power Sector Records Major Expansion

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 – 29-07-2026) - Zambia's fuel supply remains stable and secure, with adequate petroleum stocks, expanding storage facilities and plans for new pipelines aimed at protecting the country against future supply disruptions, the Ministry of Energy has assured.

The assurance comes at a time when government says it is taking steps to ensure that fuel and electricity challenges experienced in recent years do not return, with new investments being made in petroleum storage, power generation and alternative energy sources.

Permanent Secretary for Petroleum in the Ministry of Energy, Prof. Ephraim Mushifwa, said Zambia currently has enough petroleum stocks to meet demand, adding that supplies continue to come into the country daily.

Prof. Mushifwa said 100 percent of petrol entering Zambia is currently transported by road, with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) managing the distribution of fuel across the country.

He disclosed that Zambia has about 30 million litres of petrol, representing approximately 15 days of stock, but explained that the supply is constantly replenished as more trucks enter the country while other fuel consignments are distributed from Ndola to various parts of Zambia.

He added that the country has about 102 million litres of kerosene, representing around 22 days of supply, while approximately three million litres of Jet A-1 fuel is available.

Prof. Mushifwa said these figures show that Zambia has adequate fuel stocks and urged members of the public not to panic over availability.

He said occasional shortages reported at some filling stations are not a result of a national fuel shortage, but are sometimes caused by individual station operators delaying to restock.

“Sometimes the product runs out because of management issues at individual filling stations before they replenish,” Prof. Mushifwa said.

Beyond the current fuel situation, he said government is working to build stronger reserves so that Zambia is better prepared whenever global or regional supply challenges arise.

He said Zambia currently has about 666,078 cubic metres of petroleum storage capacity, including facilities in Tanzania, Ndola and other parts of the country.

The recently completed Lusaka Fuel Depot has added about 102,000 cubic metres of storage space, pushing the country's total storage capacity beyond 700,000 cubic metres.

Prof. Mushifwa said government is also looking at developing more supply routes through pipelines, with proposals being considered from Harare in Zimbabwe, Walvis Bay in Namibia and the Lobito Corridor.

He said having more supply routes would reduce Zambia’s dependence on road transportation and make the country more secure when it comes to fuel availability.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in charge of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy, Arnold Simwaba, said Zambia’s electricity sector has undergone major changes in the past four years, with new investments increasing generation capacity and improving access to power.

Mr. Simwaba said the country’s economic growth depends heavily on reliable electricity, as power is needed to support industries, create jobs and improve the daily lives of citizens.

He said government has focused on increasing electricity generation, expanding transmission lines and extending connections to more homes, businesses and public institutions.

One of the major changes, he said, has been opening up the electricity sector to allow more private investors to participate in power generation.

Mr. Simwaba said the introduction of Electricity Open Access Regulations in 2024 has created opportunities for investors to use the national transmission and distribution network to supply power.

He urged Zambians with viable energy ideas to consider investing in the sector, saying people do not necessarily need to have all the money themselves but can develop bankable projects and seek financing from financial institutions.

He also highlighted the introduction of the Energy Single Licensing System, which has simplified the process of obtaining approvals and reduced delays for investors wishing to enter the electricity sector.

Mr. Simwaba said the introduction of net metering has allowed households, businesses and industries generating their own electricity to feed excess power into the national grid.

He said the programme is already contributing more than 30 megawatts to the electricity system while encouraging cleaner energy production.

He further pointed to Zambia’s first Integrated Resource Plan, launched in 2023, which provides a long-term direction for electricity generation, transmission and distribution up to 2050.

Mr. Simwaba said one of the biggest achievements in recent years has been the increase in electricity generation capacity, which has grown by about 1,476 megawatts between 2021 and 2026.

He said installed generation capacity has increased from approximately 1,100 megawatts in 2021 to 2,576 megawatts in 2026, largely due to increased investment in solar energy.

According to Mr. Simwaba, solar generation has increased from only 88 megawatts in 2021 to about 841 megawatts in 2026, putting Zambia on the path towards achieving its target of 1,000 megawatts of solar generation.

He cited several solar projects that have contributed to this growth, including the CEC 60-megawatt solar project, the CEC 106-megawatt solar project, ZESCO’s solar projects, the 50-megawatt Mansa Solar Power Plant and other facilities across the country.

Mr. Simwaba said government is also rolling out the Constituency Energy Initiative, under which two-megawatt solar plants will be built in constituencies to increase local power generation and support economic activities in communities.

He said the long-term ambition is to increase Zambia’s electricity generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts by 2031 through a mix of solar, wind, geothermal and hydro projects.

On electricity access, Mr. Simwaba said more than 300,000 new connections have been achieved between 2022 and 2026, increasing national electricity access from 34 percent in 2021 to about 56 percent currently.

He said rural electricity access has also improved, rising from about 8 percent to more than 34 percent, as government continues connecting more rural communities.

Mr. Simwaba said government has reduced electricity connection fees under the ASCENT programme, allowing rural households and businesses to connect at K300 for a standard single-phase connection instead of K2,846.

He encouraged citizens to take advantage of the programme and apply for electricity connections.

Reflecting on the electricity challenges Zambia faced during the drought period, Mr. Simwaba said the crisis was largely caused by the country’s heavy dependence on hydro power.

He explained that Zambia experienced load management between March 2024 and November 2025 after poor rainfall reduced water levels at the Kariba Dam.

However, he said increased investment in solar and other energy sources, together with improved rainfall during the 2025/2026 season, has helped stabilise the situation.

Mr. Simwaba said government is determined to build an electricity sector that can support industries, grow the economy and ensure more Zambians have access to reliable power.