Special Report: Kanona Power fuels energy and mining growth, champions regional interconnectors at ZIMEC

As Zambia sets its sights on producing three million tonnes of copper by 2031, Kanona Power Company is steadily positioning itself as one of the most influential players linking electricity availability to mining productivity. Beyond trading power, the company is emerging as a bridge between policy ambitions and real-sector implementation—turning what was once a national aspiration for a competitive energy market into a practical reality. Kanona has fast built a reputation as a trusted power trading and aggregation company that connects generation to demand, producers to consumers, and policy to practice.

Its operations have helped anchor the growth of several major mining houses—some among Zambia’s largest copper producers—by ensuring they have access to reliable and sustained power for their operations. This contribution has been especially significant in a country historically bruised by power deficits. Kanona’s involvement has meant that even during challenging periods, including the nationwide outages triggered by the devastating 2024 drought, critical industrial users continued operating with less disruption.

Interpreting the ZIMEC Mandate: Partnerships for Sustainable Growth Kanona Account Manager, Bodrick Mwansa, underscored the urgency behind this year’s message. “This year’s theme is timely in that the mining and energy sectors need to collaborate more effectively for both to sustainably grow and contribute more towards Zambia’s economic growth and development.” His interpretation reflects a broader belief within the company that partnerships—not isolated efforts—will determine whether Zambia achieves its mineral production goals. Mwansa emphasised that scaling copper output to one million tonnes by the end of this year, and ultimately three million tonnes by 2031, hinges on power availability.

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“We believe platforms like this help create the partnerships that will drive growth, so we are excited at the prospect of seeing more partnerships come out of this year’s conference that will lead to more mining and energy projects being implemented in due course.” Mwansa made it clear that Kanona’s value lies not only in brokering electricity, but also in shaping regional energy cooperation. “Regional power integration is not only an energy policy issue, but an economic competitiveness strategy,” he said. This perspective reflects Kanona’s lived experience.

Through the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), the company has repeatedly leveraged regional partnerships to offset Zambia’s power deficits. During the recent shortages, Kanona structured cross-border power imports that stabilised supply for key industrial users—a lifeline for national economic activity. Such interventions, the company notes, are only possible when regulatory systems permit participation in regional power markets and when utilities collaborate constructively.

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