• Zambia inaugurated a 20 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Lusaka to diversify its power mix amid climate-driven hydropower constraints.
• Kiyona Energy, a ZESCO subsidiary, developed the project and will allocate 2 MW directly to the Natural Resources Development College.
• Kiyona Energy plans to develop up to 300 MW of renewable energy projects by 2028.

In Zambia, power mix diversification has become a direct response to the limitations of a hydropower system that has historically supported national supply and still delivers most electricity. This strategy materialised again on Thursday, January 29, when Kiyona Energy Limited, a subsidiary of state utility ZESCO, inaugurated a 20 MW solar photovoltaic project at the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) site in Mutendere, Lusaka.

The project aims to strengthen national grid supply in a country still affected by the 2024 drought, which sharply reduced hydropower generation and constrained electricity availability for several months.

Developers built the plant on a rehabilitated former landfill site and connected it to the national grid. Information released during the inauguration showed that 2 MW of installed capacity will directly supply the NRDC to ensure uninterrupted power for the campus. However, project costs and financing structures were not disclosed.

The initiative forms part of a broader expansion strategy led by Kiyona Energy. In mid-January, the company awarded a power purchase agreement to Bluesun Solar Zambia for a separate 26 MW solar project, with estimated investment between $22 million and $26 million and expected commercial operation before year-end. The ZESCO subsidiary also plans to develop up to 300 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2028.

National authorities have explicitly directed efforts to improve electricity supply reliability. During the inauguration, Energy Minister Makozo Chikote said: “We recognise that, while hydropower has served us well for decades, climate variability has reminded us of the urgency to diversify our energy mix and strengthen national energy security.”

This article was initially published in French by Abdoullah Diop

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM