The Ministry of Energy today highlighted major milestones that have transformed Zambia’s electricity sector over the last four years and eleven months.
Installed generation capacity increased from 3,100MW in 2021 to 4,576MW in 2026—an addition of 1,476MW to the national grid.
Solar power has expanded dramatically, growing from 88MW in 2021 to 841MW in 2026, bringing Zambia closer to the 1,000MW solar target this year.
750MW Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Station was fully commissioned, strengthening national electricity supply.
Key reforms introduced include:• Electricity Open Access Regulations
• Energy Single Licensing System
• Electricity Net Metering Programme
• Zambia’s first Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)
Net Metering now contributes over 30MW to the national grid while enabling households and businesses to sell excess electricity.
More than 300,000 new electricity connections have been achieved since 2022, increasing national electricity access from 34% to 56%.
Rural electricity access has risen from 8% to 34%, while urban access has increased from 69% to over 80.3%.
Through the ASCENT Programme, eligible rural and peri-urban households now pay only K300 for a standard electricity connection instead of K4,846. Government has also launched the Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative, which will establish 2MW solar power plants in constituencies to expand access and support local economic development.
Zambia is steadily transitioning from an electricity deficit towards a surplus, with a diversified energy mix and a project pipeline aimed at achieving 10,000MW by 2031.Load-shedding clarification: The nationwide load-shedding was experienced from 8 March 2024 to November 2025, following the severe 2023/2024 drought that affected hydroelectric generation. Government interventions and accelerated investment in new generation brought the period of load-shedding to an end.
Read the Permanent Secretary’s full statement here: