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President Hakainde Hichilema has called for stronger regional cooperation and coordination in energy management, describing it as a key catalyst for economic growth.
The President emphasised that energy security should be treated as a shared regional priority rather than an isolated national concern.
He made the remarks during the opening of the Continental Energy and Infrastructure Investment Forum (CEIIF), held at Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Tuesday.
Hichilema noted that interconnected power systems, harmonised policies, and joint planning would enhance industrialisation, trade, and investment across the region.
“Collaboration among neighbouring countries would help mitigate future energy shocks and build more resilient economies,” President Hichilema said.
He also outlined key reforms his administration had implemented in Zambia’s energy sector, stating that the interventions had been instrumental in addressing longstanding challenges in electricity supply and governance.
The President highlighted the adoption of Open Access to the national grid and the introduction of a single licensing framework as major milestones that had reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks and improved transparency.
According to Hichilema, these reforms have created a more predictable and investor-friendly environment while strengthening regulatory oversight and market efficiency.
“As a direct result of these reforms, Zambia already has Independent Power Traders operating in the market alongside an increasing number of Independent Power Producers (IPPs),” he said.
He explained that the new market structure has diversified power sources, promoted competition, and improved reliability for both households and industries.
Hichilema further acknowledged that his government had taken tough and sometimes unpopular decisions to address the recent energy crisis, stressing that inaction would have posed a serious risk to Zambia’s economic stability.
Looking ahead, he revealed Zambia’s ambition to expand its national power generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts, with 3,000 megawatts expected to be derived exclusively from coal.
“This is a balanced energy strategy that will combine renewable sources with baseload power to support industrial expansion and economic transformation,” he said.
Hichilema concluded by reaffirming his commitment to regional partnership, innovation, and sustainable energy development as pillars for long-term prosperity.
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