ZESCO Opens Doors to Private Energy Investors
Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to diversifying its energy mix, placing solar and other renewable sources at the centre of efforts to reduce dependence on hydropower. This message set the tone at the Energy Forum for Africa Conference, which opened today, 10 September 2025, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka under the theme “Investment Opportunities in the Energy Sector in Zambia and Africa.”
Addressing delegates, Eng. Justin Loongo, Managing Director of ZESCO, said the state utility is shifting from a traditional model to becoming a market enabler. “This forum brings together vision, policy and execution – the ingredients that convert ambition into megawatts, and megawatts into inclusive growth,” he said.
“At ZESCO, we are evolving into a platform that connects capital, projects and customers. We are opening the grid, standardising interconnection, and enabling multiple market participants to succeed alongside us,” Eng. Loongo added.
The remarks come as Zambia continues to grapple with a generation deficit, largely attributed to the 2024 drought that constrained hydroelectric output. New renewable energy projects, both public and private-led, are emerging to close the supply gap, with ZESCO positioning itself as a trading partner.
Eng. Loongo outlined three key opportunities for private sector engagement: open access to the transmission network for Independent Power Producers and traders; net metering for commercial, industrial and retail consumers; and mini-grids to accelerate rural electrification, with ZESCO acting as an anchor off-taker to de-risk demand. “These are not pilots,” he stressed. “They are practical tools designed with investors and lenders in mind.”
President Hakainde Hichilema, who officially opened the conference, underscored the government’s commitment to the Universal Access to Electricity Agenda. “Electricity is the engine of our economic growth,” he said. “We need to work hard, work faster, and mobilise resources quicker than ever before.”
He noted that while the recent drought had worsened the power deficit, the growing economy was also driving higher demand for electricity. “The gap we are witnessing in electricity may have been like that because of the drought which we have to address. However, the gap is growing now because the economy is growing, which means demand is growing,” President Hichilema explained.
With ZESCO prioritising infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy expansion and stronger regional connectivity, the three-day conference is expected to provide a platform for investors, policymakers and industry leaders to unlock opportunities for sustainable growth in Zambia’s energy sector.
