President Hichilema Urges Regional Cooperation on Energy
President Hakainde Hichilema has called for stronger regional cooperation in energy management, describing it as a key driver of economic growth, industrialisation and investment across Africa.
The President made the remarks today when he officiated at the Continental Energy and Infrastructure Investment Forum (CEIIF), where he emphasised that energy security should be treated as a shared regional priority rather than an individual national responsibility.
He said interconnected power systems, harmonised policies and coordinated planning among neighbouring countries would enhance trade, attract investment and help mitigate future energy shocks, ultimately building more resilient regional economies.
President Hichilema outlined key reforms undertaken by his administration to address long-standing challenges in Zambia’s energy sector. These include the introduction of Open Access to the national power grid and the adoption of a single licensing framework, which he said have reduced bureaucratic delays and improved transparency.
According to the President, the reforms have created a more predictable and investor-friendly environment while strengthening regulatory oversight and improving market efficiency. As a result, Zambia now has Independent Power Traders operating alongside a growing number of Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
He noted that the new market structure has diversified energy sources, promoted competition and improved the reliability of electricity supply for both households and industry.
The President acknowledged that the government had taken difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions to address the recent energy crisis, but stressed that failure to act would have posed a serious threat to Zambia’s economic stability.
Looking ahead, President Hichilema announced Zambia’s ambition to increase national power generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts, with 3,000 megawatts expected to come from coal. He described this as a balanced energy strategy that combines renewable energy with reliable baseload power to support industrial growth and economic transformation.
He concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to regional partnership, innovation and sustainable energy development as foundations for long-term prosperity.
