Zambia’s Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) is set to invest $500 million over the next two years to enhance its solar power generation and expand its power transmission capacity.
A key component of the investment is aimed at doubling the capacity of the power transmission line linking Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which currently has a 250 megawatt (MW) capacity. The new initiative will increase the line’s capacity to 550 MW, ensuring that electricity from new projects reaches consumers more efficiently.
The investment plan reflects Zambia’s push to improve its energy infrastructure, particularly after emerging from a four-year sovereign debt default. Chief Financial Officer Mutale Mukuka explained that the majority of the funding will come from third-party investors, and the company is looking to attract financial backing for the projects. CEC has focused on increasing transmission capacity, ensuring that power generated by new energy projects can reach the growing demand in both Zambia and neighboring countries.
The renewed interest in Zambia’s energy projects follows the country’s recovery from the sovereign debt crisis and the challenges posed by an El Niño-induced drought, which significantly reduced hydropower generation. CEC’s efforts to invest in solar power and expand transmission lines are crucial steps toward stabilizing the national energy supply and strengthening regional cooperation within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).