Zambia has five large power stations, of which four are hydroelectric and one is thermal. A fifth hydroelectric power plant is under construction at Itezhi-Tezhi Dam (120MW) along with a coal powered power station at Maamba (300MW) as of 2015.
The government is also looking to set up generators at designated locations – hospitals, schools, business areas and markets. Zambia is facing an energy crisis caused by low water levels at its hydropower plants because of a drought which has reduced water levels in the Kafue River and Zambezi basins.
While Zambia is highly dependent on hydroelectricity, some diversity has emerged with thermal and solar power plants beginning to contribute to the power generation and supply complement in just under a decade. Maamba is a coal plant currently contributing 300MW to the grid. It is located in Southern Province and has been in production since 2016.
The Full Picture In total, Zambia currently has a grid and off-grid installed capacity of 3,777MW from generating assets owned by ZESCO and private developers, including independent power producers. This is how much electricity the country would produce if all its power plants, numbering at least 25, were to operate at their full capacity.
Zambia has procured more electricity from South Africa and Zimbabwe and started a net metering campaign to address a more than 1,300MW energy deficit. The government is also looking
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Committed to providing sustainable and reliable electricity, this Directorate oversees the operation and maintenance of diverse power generation assets, including hydroelectric, thermal, and renewable
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While Zambia is highly dependent on hydroelectricity, some diversity has emerged with thermal and solar power plants beginning to contribute to the power generation and supply
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Need backup power in Zambia? Here''s a simple guide to local voltages, the most trusted brands, top models, and where to buy them—plus must-have add-ons like an inverter generator or a safe
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It''s a multi-stakeholder platform that identifies and addresses off-grid market barriers thereby improving conditions for investment in the Zambian off-grid space, with the ultimate goal of expanding electricity
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Revised in November 2025, this map provides a detailed view of the power sector in Zambia and cross-border power interconnectors serving the Copperbelt in Zambia and DR Congo.
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Biomass power in Zambia is exemplified by the Nakambala station, a 40 MW bagasse-fired cogeneration facility owned by Zambia Sugar Plc in Mazabuka District, Southern Province.
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It is unlikely that power-to-power applications of hydrogen show high potential in Zambia, as these applications still fail to provide a positive business case in the rest of the world.
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Zambia has five large power stations, of which four are hydroelectric and one is thermal. A fifth hydroelectric power plant is under construction at Itezhi-Tezhi Dam (120MW) along with a coal
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