Zambian government fast-tracks renewable energy investments

May 08, 2025

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) of Zambia approved three construction permits for the electricity and renewable energy sector. These approvals cover activities from manufacturing renewable energy equipment to major infrastructure projects like the Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnector and two solar plants with a total capacity of 108 MW.

  • The move coincides with a recent policy change, which has reduced project approval timelines from six months to approximately 48 hours. Zambia is rolling out multiple energy projects to compensate for its decline in hydropower generation

  • The mining sector and other energy-intensive industries are supplementing their grid consumption with off-grid solar solutions. Power wheeling from independent power producers is another avenue being explored, now that a new wheeling policy is in operation.

  • Our take: Could Zambia become southern Africa’s new renewables superpower?… Read more (2 min)

Q&A: Why the university-industry link is key to renewables innovation

Universities should partner with industry to address their specific needs via research and development projects, says Eng. David Masara, a Kenyan lecturer and researcher, in a Renewables Rising interview. He argues that the renewable energy sector is hampered by a lack of adequate funding to translate innovation into commercial applications.

  • Eng. Masara studied at the University of Eldoret and pursued his master's degree in mechanical engineering at Alexandria University in Egypt, where he specialised in design. He has several publications and two patents on his research work.

  • He believes that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have a major role to play by providing the technical hands-on skills to complement universities.

  • To read more about our conversation, click here (2 min).

The African Development Bank may lose its annual $500m US government contribution, so it was said this week. But in April, the bank was the continent’s top energy funder with $416 million. Mauritania was the largest single beneficiary, receiving $289 million. Other funders like the World Bank and the European Union provided over $65 million.

  • Femi Adeyemo, founder and CEO of the Nigerian renewable energy startup Arnergy, secured $18 million in Series B funding. The company has so far received at least $27 million since its inception in 2013.

  • The chairman and CEO of UK-based firm Genesis Energy Holding, Akinwole Omoboriowo, sealed a $500 million energy investment with the Katsina state government in Nigeria.

  • Our take: Emerging demand in sectors like mining, healthcare, and schools presents a dollar investment opportunity for renewables that investors should target… Read more (2 min)

Renewable energy company LPV Technologies receives the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Certificate

Events

🗓️ Sign up for the Africa Energies Summit (May 13)

🗓️ Attend Africa’s largest solar trade show expo (Jun 26)

🗓️ Register for the Clean Energy Conference and Exhibition (Jul 31)

Jobs

👨🏻‍💼 Join Sun King as a  Regional Collections Manager (Uganda)

🔌 Lead minigrid business operations at Husk Power Systems (Nigeria)

👷🏻‍♀️ Apply for the  HV Project Engineer role at Scatec Solar (Tunisia)

Various 

🔋 Greece and  Egypt to link power undersea

💡 ACTOM launches power solutions at Enlit Africa event

🤝 REA Nigeria signs deals with eight renewable energy firms

Seen on LinkedIn 

Dr. Miriam W. Oiro Omolo, Executive Director at The African Policy Research Institute, says, “Just energy transitions in Africa require an integrated energy market.”