Zambia’s state-owned power utility ZESCO has begun construction of a 20-megawatt solar plant in the capital Lusaka as the country accelerates efforts to diversify its energy mix and reduce reliance on drought-hit hydropower.
ZESCO said in a statement issued on Monday that the project is being developed through its subsidiary, Kiyona Energy Limited, in the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) area of Lusaka.
The solar photovoltaic (PV) plant forms part of President Hakainde Hichilema’s push to expand Zambia’s solar generation capacity to 1,000 megawatts as the country grapples with persistent electricity shortages.
Zambia’s power system depends heavily on hydropower, leaving it vulnerable to climate shocks. A severe drought in 2024 triggered the country’s worst electricity deficit in decades, forcing widespread load-shedding and disrupting economic activity.
“This solar surge is part of the government’s broader agenda to diversify the energy mix and address the current energy deficit,” ZESCO said, adding that over-reliance on hydropower had become increasingly risky amid more frequent droughts.
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The NRDC solar plant will be built on 20 hectares of land provided by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Natural Resources Development College. ZESCO said construction is expected to be completed by February 2026.
Once operational, the 20MW facility will primarily supply electricity to several densely populated Lusaka neighbourhoods, including Mtendere, Kalikiliki, Roma, Kalingalinga and Kanyama, as well as surrounding areas.
The project is part of a broader decentralised solar strategy being rolled out by Kiyona Energy, which is also promoting rooftop solar installations under what it calls an “Electricity-as-a-Service” model.
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Under the scheme, solar equipment is installed in homes at no upfront cost to homeowners, who continue paying their regular electricity bills. Any excess power generated is fed into the national grid for distribution to other customers.
ZESCO said the initiative is being implemented through programmes dubbed Greening Cities, Greening Markets and Greening Homes, aimed at expanding small-scale solar generation while easing pressure on the national grid.
“The Greening Homes initiative, which has already taken flight in Lusaka’s Silverest and Zambia Air Force areas, is targeting a minimum of five megawatts of solar power at each location,” the utility said.
In Silverest alone, Kiyona expects to generate about three megawatts of electricity from rooftop systems installed on roughly 600 homes, with nearby households also set to benefit from improved supply.
The company plans to extend the programme to 5,000 houses in the Kwamwena area before expanding to Salama Park and Woodlands, while also targeting major public institutions.
Among those institutions is Zambia’s National Assembly, which ZESCO said is being positioned as a net electricity generator. Solar installations at Parliament are expected to produce around one megawatt of power.
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While the National Assembly consumes about 300 kilowatts of electricity, the surplus will be supplied to nearby residential areas, including parts of Olympia township, the utility said.
“By feeding surrounding communities from Parliament, we are also reducing transmission losses,” ZESCO added.
Zambia has stepped up investment in solar and other renewable energy sources as climate change increasingly disrupts hydropower generation across southern Africa. Authorities say expanding solar capacity is critical to stabilising electricity supply, supporting economic growth and reducing reliance on emergency power imports.
The government has encouraged public-private partnerships and utility-led initiatives to fast-track renewable projects, particularly smaller plants that can be deployed more quickly than large hydro schemes.
ZESCO said the Lusaka solar projects demonstrate a shift toward distributed generation, where power is produced closer to where it is consumed, improving efficiency and resilience.
As construction begins at the NRDC site, officials say further solar projects are in the pipeline as Zambia works to close its power deficit and build a more climate-resilient energy system.
