The government of Zambia has entered into agreements with five contractors to develop 2 MW solar plant projects in 156 of the country’s constituencies. The figure represented the number of constituencies in Zambia before the country’s electoral commission added an additional 70 earlier this year.
The 312 MW of decentralized solar will be developed under Zambia’s Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative (PCEI), a flagship program designed to increase nationwide renewable energy rollout and eradicate structural power deficits.
The project, tendered late last year, is also expected to add 4 MWh battery energy storage systems at each site.
The five winners of the tender have been named as Zambia’s Sunshare Construction via a joint venture with China Railway Construction Engineering Group, Zambia’s Chetam Metals Fabrication in a joint venture with ZamChin Construction Company, China Jiangxi International Corporation via a joint venture with Qingdao Haier Photovoltaic New Energy Company, Zambia’s Golden Baobab Investments in a joint venture with Huawei Technologies Zambia, and China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited.
The contractors have been given 12 months to implement and construct the power plants. Once operational, each 2 MW plant will be connected directly to grid facilities belonging to national utility Zesco. The utility will also be serving as project manager for the initiative, overseeing technical standards and grid integration.
According to an update from the Zambian government, the ZMW 4.3 billion ($238.1 million) project will create 15,600 jobs.
Zambian Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Nicholas Phiri, said the additions to the grid will make a meaningful and immediate contribution to reducing the chronic power deficits the country has experienced.
“The PCEI is directly aligned with Zambia’s broader macro-economic and developmental goals. By integrating these solar assets into the national grid, the initiative supports the long-term target of expanding Zambia’s power generation capacity,” Phiri said.
“Local authorities will also share equity in the plants, generating a sustainable revenue stream to support community development.”
The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has tracked 1.15 GW of operational solar in Zambia, according to figures available in its project database. It adds a further 1.64 GW are currently under construction.
Last week, pv magazine reported on the factors that are turning Zambia into one of Africa’s most attractive markets for renewable energy investment
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