Govt pushes for faster project implementation as Zambia’s energy sector gains momentum

Government has expressed confidence in the growth of Zambia’s energy sector while calling for accelerated implementation of projects to translate progress into tangible results. Permanent Secretary for Technical Services in the Ministry of Energy, Prof. Ephraim Munshifwa, said the country had established a strong policy and reform foundation and must now move decisively towards execution.

Munshifwa said this during the official opening of the two-day Zambia Renewable Energy Conference, held at the InterContinental Lusaka. The event brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia and cooperating partners to accelerate the country’s renewable energy transition. “The progress we have made gives us confidence that we are on the right path.

What is required now is to accelerate implementation and deliver results that citizens can benefit from,” he said. He highlighted major reforms shaping the sector’s transformation, including the Open Access Framework, the Energy Single Licensing System and the Integrated Resource Plan. He also noted the scaling up of net metering and distributed generation to enhance grid resilience and private sector participation.

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Munshifwa reaffirmed the critical role of the private sector in delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable energy infrastructure, while emphasising inclusivity through the participation of women and young people. He urged stakeholders to translate discussions into concrete action, noting that Zambia was now well-positioned to scale up investment and deliver sustainable energy solutions. “Let us move decisively from policy to action and from commitments to results,” he said.

Event chairperson, Joseph Mutale, said the conference served as a vital bridge, connecting government, academia and energy experts to share ideas and advance practical solutions for the sector. Lloyd Chingambo, Chief Executive Officer of Lloyd Finance Limited, said Zambia was not short of ideas on how to develop the energy sector but faced challenges in actualising available opportunities. “Energy projects attract capital and must therefore be well planned and structured to unlock investment,” he said. Event Executive Director, Chilala Kakoka, said the conference was intentionally designed to bring together government institutions, regulators, utilities, project developers, financiers, academic institutions and development partners.

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