14/12/2025
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA PUSHES FOR FAST-TRACKED ENERGY INVESTMENTS TO POWER ZAMBIA’S ECONOMY
By Open Development Media |
Lusaka | 13 December 2025
President Hakainde Hichilema has called for urgent and scaled-up investments in Zambia’s energy sector, describing electricity as the backbone of industrial growth, job creation, and long-term economic transformation.
Speaking at the 4th Public–Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) in Lusaka, President Hichilema said Zambia must increase its power generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts to meet growing demand and attract sustainable private sector investment.
The President highlighted key reforms, including the Electricity Open Access Policy, which has opened the market to Independent Power Producers and Private Power Traders. He said the reforms have boosted competition, expanded supply options, and reduced the impact of power shortages on the economy.
He noted that even small energy investments—such as 2MW projects—play a critical role in strengthening national energy security and grid stability.
President Hichilema expressed concern over delays to the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector, urging faster implementation to unlock regional power trade with East Africa. He also revealed ongoing engagements with Zimbabwe to expand cross-border electricity transfer capacity.
The Head of State emphasized the need for further investment in generation, transmission, and diversified energy sources, positioning Zambia as a future electricity exporter, particularly to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He further called for streamlined licensing processes and increased digitalisation to curb corruption and speed up project delivery.
PPDF Director General Andrew Chipwende reaffirmed energy as a top national priority and encouraged private sector players to actively engage in shaping reforms and investment pathways.
Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector praised Government’s stable policy environment, noting that manufacturing contributed 9.3 percent to GDP in 2024—the highest since 1990. They also welcomed the gazetting of Private Sector Day as a milestone in strengthening public–private collaboration.
Reliable energy, President Hichilema stressed, is not just power—it is the engine of Zambia’s growth.
