Mansa Solar Plant Brings Daytime Power Back to Luapula
Zambia is edging closer to consigning power shortages to history following a decisive shift towards solar energy after the severe 2024 drought crippled hydroelectric generation.
Mansa, in Luapula Province, has emerged as a key beneficiary of this transition, with solar-generated electricity now flowing into the national grid after successful pre-commissioning tests at the 50MW Mansa Solar Plant.
Since late December 2025, approximately 14MW has been injected into the grid—well above Mansa’s peak demand of about 9MW—bringing significant relief to residents and businesses, and effectively ending daytime load shedding in the district.
ZESCO is accelerating works to ensure the full 50MW plant is completed ahead of its official commissioning scheduled for April 2026. On 2 January 2026, ZESCO Board Chairperson Mr Vickson Ncube toured the site to assess the effectiveness of the pre-commissioning phase and expressed satisfaction with progress made so far.
“I am extremely pleased with the progress at the Mansa 50MW solar project,” Mr Ncube said. “Most encouraging is the fact that we can now inject enough power into Mansa, and partly Kasama, which has effectively ended daytime load shedding.”
He noted that while minor technical glitches may occur during pre-commissioning, the plant is already delivering meaningful impact. Once fully operational, the Mansa Solar Plant will be capable of meeting Luapula Province’s entire daytime peak demand of approximately 28MW, with surplus power expected to spill over into Northern Province.
Mr Ncube added that Mansa is only one component of a broader national strategy. He cited the Mailo Solar Plant in Serenje and new presidential CDF-based solar projects as further game changers that will significantly expand electricity supply.
Some critical components for the Mansa project are still awaited from Tanzania, alongside the completion of evacuation lines. However, Mr Ncube remains optimistic that these issues will be resolved swiftly through coordinated efforts between ZESCO and the Ministry of Energy, potentially allowing commissioning to be brought forward.
“We are on a very good footing to ending load shedding,” he said. “The pain the nation has endured over the past year is slowly easing. It will not be long before this becomes a thing of the past.”
Over the last 22 months, Zambia has seen rapid investment in diversified energy sources in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s energy diversification agenda. The reforms aim to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on hydropower, which has proven vulnerable to climate shocks.
Reflecting on the past year, ZESCO Managing Director Eng Loongo acknowledged the challenges faced in 2025 but struck an optimistic tone.
“2025 was a difficult year from an electricity availability and supply perspective,” he said. “However, it was also a year of unprecedented innovation, investment and partnerships that have unlocked solutions previously beyond reach.”
