President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to expanding and modernising Zambia’s energy sector, describing it as a cornerstone of the country’s economic transformation.
Speaking during the 4th Public–Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) in Lusaka today, the President said Zambia must urgently raise its power generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts to support industrial growth and attract long-term private investment.
He explained that ongoing reforms—particularly the introduction of the Electricity Open Access Policy—have strengthened the sector by allowing Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Private Power Traders (PPTs) to participate more freely in the market.
This policy, he said, has enhanced competition, expanded electricity supply options, and enabled private sector players to supplement ZESCO during periods of power stress, thereby preventing more severe disruptions to the economy.
President Hichilema said the broader reform agenda has created a more predictable environment for investors and increased revenue collection from mining activities, with such earnings now supporting critical services like free education.
He emphasized that every additional investment, including small-scale projects of 2MW, contributes significantly to national energy security and overall grid stability.
The President expressed concern over the slow progress of the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector, urging accelerated implementation to unlock regional power trade between Zambia and East Africa.
He also announced that Zambia had engaged Zimbabwe to expand electricity transfer capacity between the two countries, reinforcing regional cooperation aimed at strengthening cross-border power reliability.
He said further investment is needed in both generation and transmission infrastructure, alongside diversified energy sources, to position Zambia as a potential exporter of surplus electricity to markets such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Hichilema further called for streamlined licensing procedures to fast-track energy investments and encouraged greater digitalisation across the sector to reduce human interference and curb corruption.
Public Private Dialogue Forum Director General Andrew Chipwende said energy remains one of the country’s top priorities and urged private stakeholders to actively participate in shaping reforms and investment opportunities.
The manufacturing sector commended the Government for creating a stable and supportive policy environment. They noted that improvements in the energy sector contributed to manufacturing accounting for 9.3 percent of GDP in 2024, the highest level since 1990.
They also welcomed the President’s announcement that Private Sector Day will be gazetted, describing it as an important step in strengthening collaboration and supporting sustained industrial growth powered by reliable electricity supply.
