Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned the 100-megawatt (MW) Chisamba Phase II Solar Power Plant, a $70 million project that increases the total generation capacity of the Chisamba Solar Complex to 200 MW.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, President Hichilema said the country had overcome electricity load-shedding as recently completed power projects continue to add generation capacity to the national grid.
He attributed the improvement in electricity supply to sustained investment in the energy sector, stressing that the progress was the result of projects initiated by the government rather than political considerations.
The President said the severe drought experienced in 2024 highlighted Zambia’s overreliance on hydropower and reinforced the need to diversify the country’s energy mix through increased investment in solar energy.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering 1,000 MW of solar capacity by the end of 2026, as part of a broader strategy to raise Zambia’s total installed electricity generation capacity to 10,000 MW by 2030.
President Hichilema also highlighted improvements in project delivery, noting that while Chisamba Phase I took more than 10 months to complete, Phase II was delivered in approximately seven months, creating more than 1,400 jobs during construction.
He added that the project’s cost was reduced from an initial estimate of $100 million to $70 million without compromising construction quality.
The President expressed appreciation to traditional authorities for allocating land for energy infrastructure and appealed for continued public support as government advances efforts to strengthen Zambia’s energy security.
Earlier, Central Province Permanent Secretary Milner Mwanakampwe said ongoing energy projects are expected to increase the province’s installed generation capacity to 437 MW by December 2026, positioning it as one of Zambia’s key energy centres.
ZESCO Managing Director Justin Loongo said the completion of Chisamba Phase II, together with the existing 100 MW Phase I facility, has established the country’s largest solar power complex with a combined capacity of 200 MW.
He noted that the project supports Zambia’s strategy to diversify its electricity generation mix in response to climate change and acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Energy, PowerChina, traditional leaders and development partners.
Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit, Kusobile Kamwambi, said ongoing policy reforms in the energy sector are helping improve electricity security by supporting investment in diversified power generation.
In his remarks, Chief Chamuka commended government reforms for attracting investment and creating employment opportunities in the area. He also encouraged communities to safeguard electricity infrastructure against vandalism and pledged additional land for the proposed development of another 50-MW solar power plant.