Zambia has 3,493MW installed capacity, 3,450MW operating capacity and 2,375MW peak demand ¹ which consists of 84% hydro, 9% thermal, 3% heavy fuel oil and 2% solar PV. ZESCO is the national is the state-owned utility and it owns and operates 90% of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Zambia. It coexists with the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) and North Western Energy Corporation Limited (NWEC) an electricity distributor in the North Western Province of Zambia, Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company (LHPC) and Maamba Collieries Limited. The Ministry of Energy is responsible for the development and management of energy resources including policy development and administration. The Rural Electrification Authority of Zambia (REA has a mandate to provide electricity infrastructure to all rural areas The Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) is responsible for developing, managing and implementing sector regulation. Zambia is a member of the Regional Energy Regulators Association Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Zambia and the Southern Africa Power Pool. The ERB is SACREEE’s National Focal Institution.

Zambia is a net exporter of electricity and is targeting to add 2,015MW of hydro, solar, wind and geothermal energy by 2030.  The national energy access rate is 48% with the urban and rural access rates standing at 82% and 14% respectively. 

1. Southern Africa Power Pool, 2022