New Solar Mini-Grids Light Up Chadiza as Zambia Expands Rural Electrification
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has commissioned 15 new solar mini-grids in Chadiza District, Eastern Province, marking a major step towards expanding access to clean, reliable and affordable energy in rural communities.
The commissioning ceremony was held in Kumadzi Community, where Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri delivered a keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote.
With a combined generation capacity of 1,050 kilowatt peak (kWp), the mini-grids have been developed by Ignite Energy Services with financial backing from the European Union (EU) under the Increased Access to Electricity and Renewable Energy Production (IAEREP) project. This represents the second phase of installations under the programme, following the commissioning of the first 15 mini-grids last year.
Once all 60 project sites are completed, the systems will supply electricity to approximately 8,088 structures, including households, public facilities and small businesses. The investment is expected to improve rural livelihoods, stimulate entrepreneurship and enhance access to essential public services.
The Minister further noted that an additional 54 solar off-grid systems will be rolled out across the country by ENGIE, OnePower and World Vision, bringing the total number of planned installations financed through EU support to 92.
Mr Chikote commended the European Union for its longstanding partnership with Zambia, supported by a €25 million grant dedicated to rural electrification and renewable energy expansion.
“This support reflects a strong and enduring partnership between Zambia and the European Union, spanning more than 50 years,” he said.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to narrowing the energy access gap, which stands at 34 per cent in rural areas compared to 80.3 per cent in urban communities. He added that the New Dawn Administration has significantly increased budgetary allocations to rural electrification.
“Government will continue to invest in rural electrification and create a conducive environment that attracts private sector participation as we pursue universal electricity access by 2030,” he said.
The Minister thanked all institutions involved in the process, including the National Authorising Office under the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the Rural Electrification Authority, traditional leaders, implementing partners and private sector stakeholders.
He urged Kumadzi residents to safeguard the new infrastructure and make full use of electricity to support income-generating activities.
