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The 2025 Energy Forum for Africa Conference opened in Lusaka on Wednesday with a call from President Hakainde Hichilema for African nations to accelerate the development of regional power interconnectors to achieve universal access to electricity.
Addressing the three-day conference, President Hichilema stressed that improved energy cooperation was critical to driving food security through irrigation and powering industrial growth in African countries such as Zambia.
He emphasised the need for Africa to dismantle “artificial boundaries” in the power sector by investing in cross-border infrastructure that would enable electricity sharing across regions.
Hichilema noted that the lack of investment in power interconnectors had long created rigidities across the continent, urging regulators to harmonise policies and remove barriers.
“The Zambia–Tanzania interconnector will allow us to link the Southern African Power Pool with the Eastern Africa Power Pool. If you are profiling projects, that interconnector is very important not only for its return on investment but also for the size of the market and the two-way trading opportunities it offers,” he said.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to energy sector reforms, the President described them as fundamental to achieving universal access to electricity and unlocking private investment across Africa.
He further warned that recurring droughts had decimated economies, making it urgent to mobilise resources for infrastructure development.
“We need to harmonise because we often face similar challenges. There are things you are doing in your market which we are not doing here, and we would like to learn from you. I am personally sensitive to the price we pay for energy tariffs,” he added.
Hichilema assured international investors that Africa was coming to the table with bankable energy projects capable of delivering strong commercial returns.
He highlighted Zambia’s ongoing energy reforms, including the Open Access Framework, designed to encourage private sector participation.
“Government will continue implementing positive reforms as they are crucial to driving economic activity,” he said.
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The conference, taking place from September 10 to 12, has already attracted international commitments, including a pledge of between US$150 million and US$200 million from Mission 300 CEO Andrew Herscowitz to support African governments in driving private energy investment, with Zambia singled out as a “model for the continent.”
Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to regional cooperation, while Mozambique’s Energy Minister, Estevão Pale, shared his country’s progress in achieving 62 percent electricity access.
British High Commissioner Rebecca Terzeon also pledged the UK’s continued support for Zambia’s electrification agenda, particularly in rural areas.
Welcoming delegates, Zambia’s Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, underscored the urgency of turning discussions into action.
“With President Hichilema’s vision and leadership, this forum is more than just a conference—it is a platform to provide concrete solutions to Africa’s energy needs,” Chikote said.
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