Zambia breaks ground on 100MW Maamba Solar Plant

The solar construction is part of the government’s bigger national aim to add 1000MW of renewable energy capacity to the grid under Mission 300

The construction of the 100MW Maamba Solar power plant project in Sinazongwe district, Zambia, has commenced. 

Makozo Chikote, Minister of Energy, officially launched the project on Monday, 22 September, during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by government officials, community leaders and residents.

The solar plant is scheduled for completion by the middle of 2026. Once completed, the plant will supply 100MW of clean energy to the national grid. Combined with Maamba Energy’s Phase II thermal expansion, expected to bring its capacity to 600MW, the town of Maamba is set to deliver 700MW of power by next year.

The solar construction is part of the Zambian government’s bigger national aim to add 1,000MW of renewable energy capacity to the grid under Mission 300. 

Chikote said the project is testimony to the private sector’s confidence in the policy adopted by government to attract investment in the energy sector.

Solar to address power deficit in Zambia

“It also symbolises the country’s focus on renewable energy to quickly increase power generation capacity and mitigate the power deficit,” the Minister explained.

He said the government would continue to focus on removing barriers and bottlenecks in order to unlock and fast-track the development of energy projects. They are also planning more solar projects to mitigate their current loadshedding problem.

“That’s how we have planned our energy mix, and we will continue putting and addressing the power deficit in the immediate, medium and long term.”

Maamba Energy Limited CEO Cyrus Minwalla called the solar project a domestic solution to the current power situation in Zambia “… designed to stabilise our energy supply and support the growth of key sectors such as mining and manufacturing. We all recognise the severe challenges posed by Zambia’s overall reliance on hydropower.”

“It is about resilience and ensuring that Zambia’s future growth in the mining, agricultural, manufacturing and services sectors is powered by a stable, diversified and reliable energy mix.”

Cover photo:  Breaking ground on the Maambe Solar Plant. Source: Maambe Energy/LinkedIN.