The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $14.54 million financing package to accelerate Zambia’s renewable energy transition through the Garneton North 20-megawatt solar project in the Copperbelt Province. Announced in early 2025, the investment marks a major milestone in the country’s efforts to bridge its power deficit and promote clean, sustainable growth.
The project, valued at $24.5 million, will design, construct, and operate a solar plant connected to Zambia’s national grid via a 10-kilometre, 33-kilovolt power line. Once operational, it will provide reliable electricity to about 82,000 people, while cutting 58,740 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, reinforcing Zambia’s low-carbon energy transition.
The AfDB’s contribution includes $7.27 million from its own resources and a matching concessional loan from a Development Finance Institution. This support aligns with Mission 300, an initiative targeting electricity access for 300 million Africans by 2030. Zambia was among the first nations to launch national energy compacts under this mission in January 2025.
Under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), ZESCO, Zambia’s national utility company, will purchase all electricity generated from the Garneton plant. This agreement provides long-term stability for investors while ensuring energy reliability for households and industries.
According to Wale Shonibare, AfDB’s Director of Energy Financial Solutions, the project will “restore confidence in Zambia’s power sector, attract private investment, and strengthen progress toward national electrification goals.” The initiative is part of Zambia’s Global Energy Transfer Feed-in Tariffs (GETFiT) programme, which aims to unlock private-sector participation in renewable energy projects.
During construction, the project will employ 90 workers, including five women and 50 youth, while 10 permanent jobs will be created during operations. This reflects AfDB’s broader commitment to gender inclusion and youth employment within Africa’s green energy development.
The Garneton North project will add vital capacity to Zambia’s strained power grid, reducing blackouts and improving national energy security. It is one of six renewable initiatives under GETFiT, collectively expected to deliver 120 megawatts of clean energy to the national grid.
Jing Li, Division Manager at AfDB, emphasized that the project will “help Zambia diversify its power mix away from hydropower, reduce outages, and ensure affordable, reliable electricity for all citizens.”
Aligned with the AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033) and the New Deal on Energy for Africa, the Garneton North Solar Project demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to advancing low–carbon development, private-sector-led growth, and universal electricity access across the continent.