The World Bank has commended Zambia’s progress in transforming its energy sector, describing the country as emerging from an electricity crisis and positioning itself as an important regional power trading hub.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with the Ministry of Energy in Lusaka, World Bank Regional Practice Director for Infrastructure, Eastern and Southern Africa, Erik Fernstrom, said the Bank was assessing the challenges facing Zambia’s energy sector and identifying areas where additional support could be provided under the country’s Energy Compact.
Fernstrom said World Bank-supported programmes, including the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Zambia (ASCENT) programme and Mission 300, were making progress in expanding electricity access and supporting the country’s energy transition.
The World Bank is also exploring additional financial resources to strengthen support for Zambia’s energy sector.
Zambia is simultaneously accelerating efforts to diversify its electricity generation mix. Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary-Electricity Arnold Simwaba said the government had set a target of adding 1,000MW of solar power in 2026 as the country works to reduce its historical dependence on hydropower.
ZESCO reported that solar capacity connected to the national grid had increased to approximately 918MW, compared with about 88MW before 2021.
The utility said increased electricity connections through programmes such as ASCENT were creating additional demand for investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Zambia’s Open Access Framework has also attracted more private-sector participation in the electricity market, while the Energy Regulation Board highlighted emerging developments such as electric vehicles and the need to strengthen technical capacity as the energy sector evolves.
Meanwhile, ZESCO said preparations were underway to manage potential El Niño effects, with water levels expected to remain adequate at most hydropower facilities through December 2026.
The utility expects additional investment in solar and thermal generation to further strengthen the country’s power supply.
The developments form part of Zambia’s broader efforts to expand electricity access, diversify generation and strengthen its position in regional power markets as it works towards universal electricity access by 2030.
