Engineers call on govt to explore geothermal energy

The Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ), has called on government to consider exploring geothermal energy to strengthen energy security, diversify the national power mix and reduce the dependence on hydropower.

EIZ Vice President for Policy, Public Relations and National Development Dr. Chilala Bowa, said while hydropower continued to provide the largest share of the country’s electricity supply, recent climate-induced droughts had exposed vulnerabilities in the current system.

Speaking in a policy brief titled “Renewable Energy Financial Modelling, Positioning Zambia for Geothermal Development,” Bowa said Zambia’s energy sector was undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at supporting economic growth and reducing dependence on a single source of electricity generation.

Bowa said the situation had highlighted the need to diversify with reliable, climate-resilient renewable energy technologies capable of delivering firm power throughout the year.

“Geothermal energy represents one of Zambia’s most promising yet underdeveloped renewable energy resources. Unlike intermittent renewable technologies, geothermal power provides continuous 24-hour baseload electricity with plant availability typically exceeding 90 percent,” she stated.

Bowa argued that geothermal plants had low operating costs after commissioning, minimal greenhouse gas emissions, and a relatively small land footprint, making them an ideal complement to Zambia’s hydropower and solar resources.

She said current geological investigations had identified more than 80 documented thermal springs across Zambia, indicating considerable potential linked to sedimentary basins, fault systems and tectonic structures.

“Continued exploration is generating valuable geological, geophysical, geochemical, and reservoir data that will support future commercial development,” Bowa said.

She cited the Bweengwa River Geothermal Project in Southern Province, located within the Kafue Trough, as Zambia’s most advanced geothermal development.

“Another prospect is the Kapishya Hot Springs in Northern Province. The site hosted a pilot installation in the 1980s and ZESCO Limited has now proposed redeveloping it using modern exploration techniques and improved power conversion systems,” Bowa said.

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