en.Wedoany.com Reported - Zambia's Chisamba Phase II Solar Power Plant has officially commenced operations, adding 100 megawatts of generating capacity to the country.

Zambia's Ministry of Energy stated that the plant, with an investment of $70 million, doubles the total installed capacity of the Chisamba Solar Complex to 200 megawatts, making it the largest single solar power plant in the country. The project's initial estimated cost was $100 million. Phase I was commissioned in June 2025, with Phase II following shortly after.

At the commissioning ceremony held in Central Province, President Hakainde Hichilema stated that government investment and policy reforms are expanding electricity generation. He said that for every additional megawatt of power, more households gain access to electricity, more businesses operate at full capacity, and more jobs are created. Hichilema noted that this plant demonstrates the effectiveness of energy reforms, which have attracted substantial private investment by opening up the sector, with similar projects being advanced nationwide.

The President stated that Zambia is diversifying its energy mix by expanding hydro, solar, and thermal power generation to reduce the impact of drought on electricity supply. The Ministry of Energy stated that Central Province is becoming a key energy hub, with related projects expected to increase generating capacity to 437 megawatts by the end of the year. State-owned power company ZESCO has integrated the new electricity into the national grid.

Zambia has reaffirmed its target of deploying 1,000 megawatts of solar power capacity by the end of the year, as part of its goal to achieve a total installed generating capacity of 10,000 megawatts by 2030.