AfDB approves $14.54M for Zambia’s Garneton North Solar Project

The $24.5 million project will design, construct, operate, and maintain the 20 megawatt solar plant, to be connected to the national grid via a 10km, 33kV power line

A $14.54 million financing package has been approved by the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank to support the Garneton North 20MW solar project, in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, catalysing the country’s renewable energy expansion and addressing the energy deficit.

When operational, the project will provide 82,000 people with clean, reliable electricity and eliminate 58,740 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per annum.

The approval, which includes $7.27 million from the African Development Bank’s own resources alongside matching concessional financing from a Development Finance Institution, underscores a strong commitment to bridging Zambia’s energy gap and advancing the Mission 300 goal of providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.

Zambia is among the first cohort of countries that launched national energy compacts under Mission 300, in January 2025.

Garneton North 20MW Solar Project is one of six projects selected by the Zambia government

According to AfDB, the $24.5 million project will design, construct, operate and maintain the 20MW solar plant, to be connected to the national grid via a 10km, 33kV powerline. 

Under a 25-year take-or-pay Power Purchase Agreement, the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited will offtake all electricity generated from the plant. 

“The project marks a key milestone in Zambia’s efforts to restore confidence in its power sector, attract private sector investment, and drive progress toward closing the energy gap and achieving Mission 300 goals,” said Wale Shonibare, AfDB Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation.

The Garneton North 20MW Solar Project is one of six projects selected by the Zambia government under the country’s Global Energy Transfer Feed-in Tariffs (GETFiT) programme, designed to unlock private-sector investment in small- and medium-scale renewable energy independent power projects in the country.

The plant will hire 90 people during construction (compromising five women and 50 youth) and will hire 10 people during operations (comprising 2 females and 6 youth). The project will add critical capacity to Zambia’s strained power grid, reducing blackouts and improving energy security.

The GETFiT programme approach will facilitate the timely procurement of a total 120MW of renewable energy capacity, diversify Zambia’s power mix, and demonstrate that Zambia’s power sector is once again bankable for private investment. 

Jing Li, Division Manager, Energy Financial Solutions at the African Development Bank, said: “Through the successful implementation of this project and the broader programme, Zambia will demonstrate its strong commitment to diversifying its energy mix away from hydropower and enhancing energy security.

“By expanding renewable generation capacity, the project will help reduce the frequency and severity of power outages, ensure a more reliable electricity supply, and contribute to maintaining cost-reflective tariffs for consumers.”

The AfDB said the Garneton North 20MW Solar Project aligns with the AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033) and the New Deal on Energy for Africa, advancing a low-carbon development path and facilitating universal electricity access through clean energy.

It further supports the Bank’s climate change, gender, youth employment and resilience strategies, as well as private-sector-led renewable energy development under Mission 300.

Cover photo:  visoot©123rf