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Electrical safety | Responsible energy use | Renewable energy adoption and related topics
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26/09/2026

US$275 million from AfDB. US$250 million from Exergy. And these are just two recent examples. Zambia is increasingly becoming a hub for investment in power projects, from solar and battery storage to transmission and other supporting infrastructure.

Loadshedding could have ended Loadshedding.

06/09/2026

Zambia’s installed electricity generation capacity, now around 4.6GW, places it among Africa’s larger power markets and most likely within the continent’s top 10.

01/09/2026

THE RISE & DECLINE OF THE KARIBA DAM WATER LEVELS

The Zambezi River Authority has indicated that water levels at Lake Kariba are now declining. For some, any announcement of a declining Kariba water level immediately raises concerns about a possible return to electricity shortages.

However, a declining water level at Kariba does not automatically mean there is a crisis.

Lake Kariba's water level naturally follows a seasonal cycle of rising and falling. During the rainy season, increased rainfall across the Zambezi River catchment results in higher inflows into the reservoir, allowing water levels to recover and rise. As the rainy season ends and inflows reduce, the lake gradually enters its recession period.

During this period, water continues to be released for hydropower generation while inflows are lower, causing the reservoir level to decline progressively through the dry season. This seasonal decline is therefore a normal part of how the Kariba reservoir operates and, on its own, does not necessarily indicate a water crisis.

The more important indicator is how well the reservoir recovers during the rainy season. When rainfall and inflows are significantly below normal, Kariba may not replenish sufficiently before entering the next dry season. Continued water releases for power generation can then push the reservoir towards critically low operating levels.

This distinction is important in conversations around electricity supply and load shedding. A declining Kariba water level should always be understood within the broader context of seasonal inflows, water allocation, power generation requirements and the overall amount of usable water remaining in the reservoir.

Kariba is expected to rise and fall. The real concern begins when it does not rise enough.

31/08/2026

Reports emerging from Lusaka indicate that a devastating fire has engulfed parts of Buseko Market, with traders reportedly losing goods worth millions of Kwacha.

First and foremost, our thoughts are with every trader, business owner and family affected. For many people, a market stand is not just a business. It represents years of sacrifice, borrowed capital, school fees, food on the table and an entire family's livelihood.

To everyone who has lost property, stock and income in this fire, we can only imagine the pain of watching everything you have worked for disappear within hours. We stand with you and hope that meaningful support reaches all those affected.

But as we reflect on yet another market fire, perhaps we must also ask a difficult question:

Are we investing enough in preventing these fires before they happen?

Every major fire requires emergency response. Fire brigades must be deployed, equipment and resources mobilised, rescue operations conducted and, in many cases, public funds are later required to support affected traders and communities.

All of this is necessary.

But prevention will almost always cost less than recovery.

Many of our markets are particularly vulnerable to fire. Makeshift structures constructed using timber, plastic sheets, sacks and other combustible materials can allow a small fire to spread rapidly. Congested trading spaces can make access difficult for firefighters, while electrical installations, open flames and other ignition sources can further increase the risk.

This is why we believe fire safety awareness should become a continuous programme in our markets, not something we discuss only after tragedy strikes.

Perhaps local authorities, working with fire brigades and market associations, should consider regular fire safety campaigns.

We cannot eliminate every fire. But many fires can be prevented, contained earlier or made less destructive.

As Zambia continues to develop its markets and trading infrastructure, fire safety must not be an afterthought.

Because when prevention fails, the cost is not measured only in burnt buildings and destroyed goods.

It is measured in lost livelihoods, disrupted families and millions spent trying to recover from something we may have had an opportunity to prevent.

30/08/2026

ENERGY NEWS | DRC 🇨🇩

A major solar-plus-storage project at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo has officially entered commercial operation.

The project combines 233 MWp of solar PV with 526 MWh of battery storage, providing approximately 30 MW of firm power to the mining operation.

In simple terms, the project is designed to make around 30 MW of power available to the mine whether the sun is shining or not.

The project is being described as Africa’s first solar-plus-BESS facility designed to provide firm baseload power.

It is another example of how combining solar with large-scale battery storage can make renewable energy more reliable and available when it is needed.

29/08/2026

There has been a lot of misinformation about load shedding in Zambia for a while, but we believe the conversation should be based on engineering facts, not speculation.

The Ministry of Energy has recently stated that the national electricity supply situation is stable and that nationwide load management is not expected to return in 2026 or the near future. The Ministry has also reported improved water allocation for Kariba North Bank to about 15 billion cubic metres.

Claims that electricity supply is being deliberately switched off for political reasons, that load shedding will soon be back, or that every interruption automatically means the grid is failing should therefore be treated with caution unless supported by credible technical evidence.

Load shedding is not inherently a bad thing. From a power-system perspective, controlled load shedding is a protection measure used when available generation cannot safely meet the full system demand. When properly implemented, it can prevent system collapse, widespread blackouts and prolonged restoration periods.

That does not mean we should accept load shedding as the solution. Zambia needs more reliable generation, stronger transmission and distribution networks, adequate reserves and better system planning, all of which are being tackled as part of the ambitious target of reaching 10,000 MW of installed generation capacity by 2030.

We must also remain conscious of El Niño and changing hydrological conditions. Our experience has shown how vulnerable a hydro-dependent power system can become. This is why, in the short term, there has been a significant push towards solar and thermal generation, given their relatively quicker deployment timelines.

Additionally, in a real-world power system, especially as we connect more customers, expand transmission and distribution networks, and bring new generation online, power interruptions will still occur. Some outages are necessary to facilitate planned maintenance, new connections and network upgrades, while others may result from faults, equipment failures, weather events or vandalism.

So, let us ask questions and demand accountability, but let us not sabotage our own energy sector with misinformation.

Let’s discuss electricity with facts, engineering and Zambia’s long-term energy security in mind.

20/06/2026

The droughts experienced in the last few years have in a way been a blessing in disguise. Zambia has set an ambitious target of reaching 10,000 MW of installed capacity by 2030 driven by a mix of hydro, thermal and solar. To put it into context from about 1950 to around 2020 the country only managed to develop roughly 2,500 MW in total. That means we are now looking at about four times that capacity within roughly a decade.

For the first time 10,000 MW is not just a vision on paper it is technically possible and likely to be achieved faster than what is projected in the IRP. But that only holds true if transmission and distribution is treated as co-equal infrastructure not a follow-on project.

Strengthening transmission and distribution networks alongside building strong export interconnections remains key. Without that reinforcement a lot of this new capacity risks being stranded or underutilized.

If we get the balance right between generation and grid infrastructure Zambia is not just expanding capacity it is positioning itself as a serious regional power hub.

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