Zambia is accelerating a multifaceted overhaul of its power sector, combining new generation capacity, grid strengthening and regional interconnectivity to address domestic supply constraints, while establishing itself as a strategic power hub in southern Africa.
At the heart of this effort is renewed momentum behind the Batoka Gorge Hydropower Project, a long-delayed flagship development on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. Earlier this month, Zambia and Zimbabwe agreed to mobilize $440 million to restart preparatory work, with both countries contributing $220 million to the project’s final cost of $4.2 billion. Once completed, Batka Valley is expected to add 2,400MW of installed capacity to be split evenly between the two countries, significantly expanding the baseload power available in the region.
The Batoka Gorge, developed through the Zambezi River Authority, has long been seen as a cornerstone of the region’s energy security. For Zambia, its resurgence reflects a broader strategic readjustment driven by rising electricity demand and increased exposure to climate-related hydropower fluctuations. The prolonged drought in recent years has curtailed the output of major facilities such as the Kariba Dam, exposing risks to the power system, where hydropower accounts for about 80% of installed capacity.
To reduce this vulnerability, the government has adopted a strategy of diversification beyond large-scale hydropower. Domestic electricity access now stands at around 51% and rural electricity access at nearly 33%, highlighting both the scale of unmet demand and the political urgency of expanding supply. Zambia has set a target of reaching 10,000MW of installed capacity by 2030, mainly from renewable energy, including an estimated 3,000MW of solar power.
That transition is already taking shape. The 110 MW Milo solar power plant in Serenje began generating electricity in October 2025, adding meaningful capacity to the grid while offsetting seasonal hydropower fluctuations. This has been followed by a wave of additional solar power projects, most notably the 100MW Chisamba Solar Power Plant, which began operations in June 2025. Chisamba supplies power directly to industrial off-takers such as First Quantum Minerals under long-term power purchase agreements, easing pressure on hydropower resources and freeing up capacity for the wider grid.
However, expanding power generation is only one side of Zambia’s power equation. Aging transmission infrastructure has been constraining system performance for years, causing technical losses, equipment failures, and bottlenecks between power plants and load centers. In response, state-owned power company ZESCO has accelerated the strengthening of the power grid, including the completion of a second 330 kV transmission line between Kabwe and Pensuro, and ongoing construction of the 330 kV transmission line between Kafue West and Mzuma. These upgrades are designed to improve the flow of power across multiple states and better integrate new solar capacity into the national grid.
Beyond domestic transmission, regional interconnection is emerging as a crucial pillar of Zambia’s energy strategy. The $292 million Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector Project, supported by the World Bank and development partners, is building a 400 kV corridor linking Zambia and Tanzania, and thus the East African power pool. Once operational, Zambia will be able to import electricity in times of supply shortages and export surplus electricity, linking southern and eastern African electricity markets for the first time.
Additional cross-border projects are also progressing through the feasibility stage, including the proposed Angola-Zambia interconnector, which would enable the import of up to 2GW of Angolan hydropower, and a proposed high-voltage transmission line with Botswana, aimed at expanding power trade within the Southern African Development Community.
Taken together, Zambia’s efforts to diversify power generation, modernize transmission, and deepen regional integration represent a decisive shift in the way the country approaches energy security. As climate risks intensify and regional electricity demand continues to rise, Zambia is not only strengthening its own electricity grid, but also laying the foundations to become a key node in Southern Africa’s evolving electricity landscape.
