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The Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has announced plans to triple its solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity to 300 megawatts (MW) by 2027, in a bid to enhance Zambia’s energy security amid ongoing drought-induced power challenges.
CEC currently operates 98MW of solar PV at its Kitwe hub, with an additional 136MW expected from the Itimpi II project.
Speaking on ZNBC Radio 2 on Friday, CEC Head of Government Relations, Silvester Hibajene, urged Zambians to remain patient as the country recovered from the prolonged drought, which slashed hydropower generation by nearly 80 percent last year.
“Solar has its limitations, but it plays a critical complementary role to hydro and thermal power,” Hibajene said.
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He said: “To bridge the national energy deficit of 1,400MW, we’d need around 2,000MW of solar. However, our system can currently accommodate only about 1,000MW without risking grid instability.”
He commended ongoing energy sector reforms and hailed the recent commissioning of the 100MW Chisamba Solar project — ZESCO’s first major solar venture — as a step in the right direction.
Hibajene reaffirmed CEC’s commitment to scaling up its renewable energy investments, with most of the targeted capacity expected to come online by 2027.
Meanwhile, ZCCM-IH Investment Analyst, Mukuka Mapemba, said the firm was focusing its investment strategy on mining and energy, noting that it invested US$10 million in CEC Renewables through a US$200 million green bond last year.
“Renewable energy remains a top priority for us, and we aim to lead future projects through strategic partnerships,” Mapemba said.
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