The Zambian government is inviting local and international investors to explore opportunities in the country’s renewable energy sector, specifically for utility-scale solar projects.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Zambian Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the government announced its intention to seek investments through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
This approach is particularly innovative for a country that relies heavily on a centralized grid powered primarily by thermal plants.
During the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) Pre-Budget Capital Markets Meeting, Zambia’s Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane stressed the critical role of the PPP model in fostering growth, creating jobs, and driving industrial transformation.
“Money is never a problem where there are good ideas. The PPP model is Zambia’s pathway to faster growth, job creation, and industrial transformation,” Musokotwane stated.
In addition to renewable energy, the PPP arrangement will also encompass infrastructure developments across selected regions of the country, as well as joint ventures in copper, cobalt, manganese, and other critical minerals.
This renewable energy tender follows the government’s recent approval of a 50MW solar plant in July, part of 21 licenses granted to independent power producers.
Zambia’s latest electricity moves
Moreover, Zambia’s 21 million citizens continue to face challenges with low electricity access due to network constraints and infrastructure issues.
Over the last five years, the government reported that access to electricity has risen to 54% from just 34%, thanks to presidential directives and ongoing reforms in the power sector.
These reforms include phasing out inefficient subsidies and attracting more capital investment into electricity infrastructure.
Last month, Zambia’s state-owned utility firm, Zesco, signed a $300 million deal with the British Anzana Electric Group to connect 2 million residents to the country’s national grid for the first time.
The agreement covers the expansion and rehabilitation of Zambia’s electricity network, which will attract infrastructure development and promote regional integration.
“We are excited to partner with Anzana, who is employing an innovative and inclusive approach to attract capital and rapidly increase electrification rates in rural Zambia,” said Justin Loongo, Zesco’s Managing Director.
Zambia recently commissioned phase one of the Chisamba 1,000MW Solar Power Plant and plans to add similar capacity by the end of 2025.
Best time for investment
The government believes that now is the best time to attract foreign investments into critical sectors of the economy, given the country’s relative stability in its fiscal markets.
In August 2025, the Lusaka Securities Exchange was ranked as the best-performing stock exchange globally.
This, along with debt restructuring and fiscal discipline, has restored investor confidence.
Additionally, the country’s Capital Markets Master Plan (CMMP) supports PPP reforms and investor protection.
The Ministry of Finance and National Planning states that the government will host quarterly investor forums to accelerate project financing and remove obstacles.
Local investors are encouraged to pool capital through pension funds and cooperatives, while foreign investors are invited to utilize Zambia’s transparent PPP framework for high-return, sustainable projects.
