ZESCO EYES 11,630MW POWER CAPACITY

Utility targets 10,000MW by 2029 as Zambia accelerates energy diversification, private investment and transmission expansion.

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 — November 11, 2026 — ZESCO has set its sights on increasing Zambia's installed electricity generation capacity to 11,630 megawatts by 2030 through increased investment in solar, thermal, wind and other energy sources, alongside expansion of transmission and distribution infrastructure, as the country seeks to strengthen power supply, attract investment and reduce dependence on hydropower.

Minister of Electricity Peter Kapala has welcomed the progress being made in the sector, particularly improvements in ZESCO's financial performance and the diversification of electricity generation, describing the developments as evidence that the country is moving in the right direction.

Eng. Kapala said ZESCO's reported financial improvement to US$6.5 million was commendable, considering the financial difficulties and substantial debt the power utility had accumulated over the years.

He said moving from a difficult financial position to US$6.5 million demonstrated progress and expressed confidence that the utility would build on the achievement to generate millions of dollars in revenue for the country over the next three to five years.

The Minister attributed the improvements to deliberate Government policies and leadership under President Hakainde Hichilema, saying the revival of institutions that had struggled for more than two decades was a significant achievement.

He also welcomed the changing energy mix, saying hydropower's contribution had declined from about 85 per cent to 34 per cent, reflecting progress in diversifying electricity generation.

ZESCO Board Chairperson Vickson Ncube said the utility had aligned its investment and development plans with the Government's electricity expansion ambitions and was targeting to attain 10,000MW by 2029.

Mr Ncube said the additional generation capacity would take Zambia beyond the Government's target, demonstrating ZESCO's commitment to supporting increased electricity supply for households, businesses and industries.

He was speaking when Minister Kapala visited ZESCO offices, where he assured him of the Board's commitment to working with the Ministry of Electricity to achieve the national electricity targets.

Mr Ncube said ZESCO recognised the importance of the Government's commitment to increasing installed generation capacity to at least 10,000MW within five years.

"We are people who aim for the sky so that when we miss it, we hit the clouds," he said.

ZESCO Managing Director Justine Loongo said the utility was assessing different technologies and exploring partnerships and financing models to accelerate the development of new electricity generation projects.

Mr Loongo said increasing generation capacity needed to be matched by investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure that additional electricity reached consumers.

He said generation expansion alone would not be sufficient without strengthening the networks required to transmit and distribute power to households, businesses and industries.

Mr Loongo also highlighted ongoing electricity sector reforms aimed at opening Zambia's electricity market to wider participation.

He said the open-access framework, anchored in electricity regulations, allowed eligible participants to use transmission and distribution networks, creating opportunities for private-sector investment.

Mr Loongo said increased private-sector participation and regional electricity trading would help Zambia respond to growing demand and improve the reliability of supply.

He said dependable electricity was central to the successful implementation of the Grow Zambia Agenda because industries, farms and businesses needed reliable power to expand production, attract investment and create employment.

Director of Transmission Liyoko Sitali said Zambia was targeting 11,630MW of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030, up from 3,307MW recorded in 2021.

Mr Sitali said achieving the expansion would require significant investment in generation and transmission infrastructure to ensure that additional electricity reached consumers, industries and businesses.

He said the Government was pursuing major electricity sector reforms, including the introduction of an open-access electricity market, to encourage investment and create opportunities for new players.

Mr Sitali explained that Zambia's generation mix was expected to undergo significant changes by 2030, with solar power projected to account for 35 per cent of installed capacity, followed by hydropower at 34 per cent and thermal energy at 28 per cent.

He said hydropower capacity was projected to increase from approximately 2,704MW in 2021 to 3,970MW by 2030, while thermal generation would rise from 515MW to 3,234MW.

Mr Sitali said solar capacity was expected to record one of the largest increases, growing from just 88MW in 2021 to 4,126MW by 2030.

He said the country's plans also included 200MW of wind energy and 100MW from other sources, including biomass.

Mr Sitali said the diversification would reduce hydropower's dominance in the national generation mix from approximately 82 per cent in 2021 to 34 per cent by 2030, strengthening energy security and reducing exposure to risks associated with reliance on a single source.

He cited the commissioning of the 750MW Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower plant in 2022, alongside subsequent solar and hydropower developments, as part of the progress already made in expanding generation capacity.

However, Mr Sitali said increasing generation alone would not guarantee reliable electricity supply without corresponding investments in transmission infrastructure capable of evacuating power from generating stations and delivering it to consumers.

Among the projects is the Musuma transmission line, intended to evacuate electricity from generation projects in the area. The project had recorded 2.79 per cent progress, with commercial operation expected in June 2027.

He also cited the Lusaka West transmission line project, intended to support growing electricity demand, particularly in the Copperbelt. The project had reached 54 per cent completion, with commercial operation also expected in June 2027.

Another project is the Lusaka-Muzoka overhead transmission line, which is expected to facilitate electricity evacuation from Southern Province and increase Zambia's capacity to receive imported power from Namibia.

Mr Sitali said the transmission programme also included a 350-kilovolt Musuma-Nambala line to evacuate electricity from major generation projects in Southern Province.

He said Government was further planning to install dynamic voltage compensation equipment to stabilise electricity voltage, reduce transmission losses and increase the amount of power that could be transferred through the national grid.

Meanwhile, Eng. Kapala said Government was targeting to connect three million customers to electricity by 2030, describing the ambition as an important step towards expanding access.

He said Zambia had moved beyond its previous target of achieving 51 per cent electricity access and was now pursuing universal access, with the long-term ambition of reaching 100 per cent by 2050.

The Minister encouraged stakeholders in the energy sector to sustain the progress, saying a stronger and more diversified electricity industry would support industrial production, business investment and the country's wider economic development.