Maamba Energy to Become Zambia’s 700 MW National Energy Hub by 2026
Maamba Energy Limited (MEL), one of Zambia’s foremost energy producers, has unveiled its ambitious plan to expand generation capacity to 700 megawatts (MW) by 2026. The announcement was made during the Southern Province Investment Forum and Exposition 2025, reflecting MEL’s commitment to driving Zambia’s investment-led socio-economic transformation.
Speaking at the event, Maamba Energy Chief Executive Officer, Colonel Cyrus Minwalla (Retired), highlighted the company’s mission to power national development. “Every megawatt we generate fuels industries, lights homes, and creates jobs that transform lives. This is what socio-economic transformation looks like in action,” he said.
The announcement coincided with President Hakainde Hichilema’s call for greater investor confidence and ambition. In his remarks, the President reaffirmed that meaningful investments directly translate into improved livelihoods. “Out of investments, projects, once implemented, jobs are created. That’s the way to fight poverty,” he said.
For more than a decade, Maamba Energy has been a cornerstone of Zambia’s electricity generation, operating a 300 MW thermal power plant while revitalising the nation’s largest coal mine.
The company’s Phase II expansion, now underway, includes an additional 300 MW of thermal power and a 100 MW solar power plant, bringing total capacity to 700 MW by 2026. This development is expected to enhance national energy security by providing stable, climate-independent baseload power to support economic growth.
True to the Expo’s theme, Socio-Economic Transformation through Partnerships and Innovation, Maamba Energy continues to extend its impact beyond power generation through targeted community initiatives.
Education: The Maamba Private School remains one of Zambia’s top-performing institutions, maintaining a 100% pass rate.
Health: The Maamba Eye Clinic, equipped with a full surgical theatre, has already conducted over 400 cataract surgeries in 2025, serving patients across five districts and from neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Innovation and Livelihoods: In line with the President’s call to harness local strengths, the company has launched a brick-making cooperative that transforms waste by-products from its power plant into valuable construction materials, creating sustainable employment and promoting environmental responsibility.
“These are not just projects; they are living examples of how partnerships and innovation directly fuel socio-economic transformation, the very essence of this year’s Expo,” Colonel Minwalla said. “We share the President’s confidence that with the right partnerships, Southern Province and Zambia at large can unlock unprecedented opportunities for inclusive growth.”
Maamba Energy expressed its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Southern Provincial Administration for their ongoing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, strengthening investor confidence, and positioning Zambia as a competitive regional energy hub.
