Zambia has officially commissioned its 100-megawatt (MW) Chisamba Phase II Solar Power Plant, a $70 million project that stands as the country's largest single solar installation to date. The plant, located in Central Province, is projected to help push Zambia's electricity generation to 437 MW by the end of the year.

The newly commissioned phase doubles the Chisamba facility's total capacity from 100 MW to 200 MW. Although the second phase was initially projected to cost $100 million, the final investment came in at $70 million. The launch comes approximately one year after the commissioning of the project's first phase in June 2025.

The development represents a concerted effort by the Zambian government to reduce load-shedding and decrease dependence on grid electricity. President Hakainde Hichilema, speaking at the launch in Central Province, described the project as evidence that the administration's energy sector reforms are delivering results through strategic investment and private sector participation.

"Every megawatt we add means more homes with the lights on, more businesses running at full capacity, and more jobs for our people," President Hichilema said. "This plant is proof that our energy reforms are working. By opening up the sector, we have attracted serious private investment, and more plants like this are now being built across the country."

The president also emphasized that Zambia is actively diversifying its energy mix by expanding hydroelectric, solar, and thermal generation capacity, aimed at mitigating the impact of drought conditions on electricity supply. For a country where electricity shortages have translated into rationing for households and businesses, adding grid-connected solar capacity is part of a broader attempt to make supply less dependent on any single generation source.

The Ministry of Energy noted that Central Province is emerging as an important energy hub for the country, with multiple projects expected to contribute to the 437 MW generation target by year's end. State-owned utility ZESCO confirmed that the additional power from the Chisamba plant will be integrated into the national grid, making grid absorption and delivery of the wider project pipeline key measures of progress toward the government's near-term power targets.

The commissioning aligns with Zambia's broader ambition of deploying 1,000 MW of solar capacity by the end of the year, a milestone within the country's long-term goal of reaching 10,000 MW of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030.

The Chisamba Phase II plant is part of a wider pipeline of solar projects underway in Zambia. Two additional facilities are in development: the Itimpi Solar Station, a 94 MW plant, and the Chipata West Project, a 100 MW installation planned to supply the Eastern Province.

These projects address a longstanding power distribution challenge in the country. Persistent grid connection issues and power rationing have led an estimated 83% of off-grid Zambian households to rely on solar panels as an alternative electricity source. Commercial businesses have also increasingly turned to rooftop solar installations to shield operations from blackouts.

The trend extends beyond Zambia. According to a report published in February by the Global Solar Council (GSC), solar panel installations across Africa surged 54% in 2025, representing the fastest annual growth on record. The expansion was driven primarily by utility-scale projects deployed by governments and development agencies, alongside growing adoption of rooftop and commercial systems by households.

In Nigeria, a parallel initiative underscores this momentum. Under the Aso Rock solar project, the Nigerian government is planning to fully disconnect the Presidential Villa from the national grid and install a dedicated solar power system, a move aimed at eliminating an unsustainable ₦47 billion annual electricity bill.