• Mailo solar plant begins feeding 25 MW into Zambia’s grid, part of a 110 MW project.
• Zambia aims for 50% electricity access by 2030 with 1,000 MW of solar by end-2025.
• AfDB report urges stronger regulation as rapid growth outpaces oversight.
Zambia took a major step toward its energy goals with the Mailo solar power plant starting production. Since June 30, the plant has injected 25 MW into the national grid, marking progress in Zambia’s push for more renewables.
State utility ZESCO and UK-based Solar Century Africa developed the Mailo project in Serenje district. The facility’s 110 MW capacity will help Zambia diversify its energy mix, which still relies heavily on drought-prone hydropower. Zambia plans to install 1,000 MW of solar capacity by the end of 2025 to increase electricity access to 50% by 2030.
However, the rapid growth of solar projects exposes weaknesses in Zambia’s regulatory framework. The African Development Bank’s 2024 Electricity Regulatory Index ranks Zambia 14th out of 43 African countries with a score of 0.691—above the continental average but outside the top 10.
The report praises Zambia’s regulatory governance, giving it a strong 0.819 score for having an independent regulator and sound legal structures. But it finds shortcomings in regulatory substance (0.655) and especially outcomes (0.599), reflecting gaps in areas like mini-grid oversight, off-grid systems, and consumer protection.
The AfDB warns that fast-paced solar expansion, like the Mailo project, is outstripping regulators’ ability to monitor tariffs, integrate decentralized systems, and support energy efficiency. It calls for stronger operational regulation to ensure better service quality, fair prices, and expanded electricity access—key measures of real impact on consumers.
Abdel-Latif Boureima
Togolese banks provided 16.2% of WAEMU cross-border credit by September 2025 Regional cross...
Microfinance deposits in Togo increased by CFA11.9 billion, a 2.7% rise in the second quarter of 2...
The BoxCommerce–Mastercard Partnership introduces prepaid cards, giving SMEs instant access to e...
Nigeria licensed Amazon’s Project Kuiper to operate satellite services from 2026, setting up dir...
Gas-fired plants and renewables anchor Mauritania’s electricity expansion plan New thermal, solar...
Tourist arrivals to Africa rose 8% in 2025, the highest global increase. The continent welcomed 81 million international tourists during the...
CBE introduced CBE Connect in partnership with fintech StarPay. The platform enables cross-border transfers and multiple financial services. The...
Algeria and Italy signed university partnerships to strengthen research, entrepreneurship, and academic mobility between the two countries. The...
TVS Motors is in discussions to build its first African motorcycle and tricycle manufacturing plant in Egypt, according to the Egyptian Investment...
Three African productions secured places among the 22 films competing for the Golden Bear at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. Berlinale...
Ambohimanga is a hill located about twenty kilometres northeast of Antananarivo, in Madagascar’s Central Highlands. It holds a central place in the...