ZESCO signs over 1,000MW in solar deals, but financing remains major hurdle —Energy minister, Chikote

Energy Minister, Makozo Chikote, says ZESCO Limited has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) with solar developers exceeding 1, 000 megawatts, adding that most of them have not been actualized due to lack of financing.

Chikote said the government was also streamlining licensing frameworks, opening up the grid to competitive access, and working hand-in-hand with regional institutions to facilitate cross-border energy trade.

The minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by Sports, Youth and Arts Minister, Elvis Nkandu, at the launch of the Energy Forum For Africa (EFFA) in Lusaka on Saturday evening, held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre,

Chikote said the most notable successful partnership was the recently launched 100 MW Chisamba solar power in Central Province.

He stated that the project was more than a milestone but a statement of what was possible when the government and business work together with a shared vision.

Read More: Govt, partners sign deal to deploy 50 megawatts of solar energy in Eastern Province

The Chisamba plant, he noted, now stood as one of the largest solar installations in Zambia’s energy mix and was a model of how investment, innovation, and enabling policy can converge to deliver tangible results for Zambians.

Chikote added that this year’s theme for the conference,” investment opportunities in the energy sector in Zambia and Africa,” reflected the government’s unwavering belief that with right policies and the right partners, the country could transform ambition into bankable energy infrastructure, clean, inclusive and resilient

“The conference will provide a meeting point between the developers and financiers to possibly bring the projects to reach financial close,” he said.

Chikote also urged the media to shine a light on the success stories by bringing to light the change makers.

He said Zambia was not lacking potential but demanded platform and the EFFA was one such platform.

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