Minister Musonda claims end of load shedding in Luapula Province with injection of 14MW from solar power plant

Luapula Province Minister, Nason Musonda, claims load shedding has come to an end in the province following the successful supply of 14 megawatts into the national grid from the Mabumba 50 Megawatt Solar Power Plant in Mansa District.

Musonda claimed that the development has restored power stability in Mansa and surrounding areas, enabling businesses and households to resume normal operations after a prolonged period of power rationing.

Speaking during an inspection of the project in Mabumba Chiefdom on Tuesday, the Minister said the solar plant was a direct outcome of President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership in responding to the 2024 drought, which severely affected hydropower generation.

He explained in a statement issued on Wednesday that the government, through ZESCO Limited, had been given strict timelines to deliver the project within 12 months in order to address energy insecurity that had negatively impacted economic activities in the province.

“Since December 25, 2025, the plant has been evacuating 14 megawatts into the grid, a capacity sufficient to meet Mansa’s current power demand, resulting in uninterrupted electricity supply across key districts including Chembe and Samfya,” Musonda said.

The Minister added that once fully commissioned, the 50-megawatt plant would exceed Luapula’s demand of about 30 megawatts, positioning the province for sustained economic growth and increased industrial activity.

Meanwhile, ZESCO Site Engineer, Prince Mbonge, confirmed that the 14 megawatts currently being generated is supplying the entire Mansa township, with works underway to complete a permanent evacuation line to the Mansa Substation by April 2026.

“The Mabumba Solar Power Plant, which will benefit over 20,000 households, is part of the 1,000 Megawatts Presidential Solar Initiative being rolled out across the country to strengthen national energy security,” Mbonge said.

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