World Bank pledges stronger support for Zambia’s energy sector, mulls development of mini-grids

The World Bank Group has reaffirmed its commitment to Zambia’s energy transformation, emphasizing mini-grid development as a key strategy for improving access to reliable electricity.

Speaking at the launch of the third Benchmarking Africa’s Minigrids Report during the 8th Minigrid Action Learning Event in Lusaka on Tuesday, World Bank Country Manager Achim Fock stressed the need for increased investments in the sector.

“Through financial and technical assistance, we are eager to foster stronger collaboration with the Zambian government, private sector, and other stakeholders to drive mini-grid expansion and renewable energy development,” Fock said.

He highlighted the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF), which prioritizes energy access, private sector financing, regional integration, and support for the mining sector.

Additionally, he cited key initiatives such as the National Energy Advancement and Transformation Program (NEAT) and the Regional Energy Transmission, Trade, and Decarbonization Project (RETRADE), which includes the Zambia-Tanzania interconnector.

Energy Minister, Makozo Chikote, acknowledged Zambia’s electricity access challenges, particularly in rural areas, where only 34 percent of the population has electricity.

Despite national electrification rates rising to 51 percent in 2024 from 31 percent in 2021, Chikote said mini-grids and solar home systems remain the most viable solutions for rural communities.

“To achieve universal access by 2030, the government is rolling out the Mission 300 (M300) initiative, aiming to electrify 1.4 million households with solar home systems and 328,000 households with mini-grids,” he said.

Chikote added that the government planned to have at least 200 operational solar mini-grids by 2030, ensuring clean and affordable electricity for all rural districts.

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