ZESCO Limited has signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Hungarian firm, ENERSYNK Solar Energy Limited, for the development of a 500-megawatt AC solar photovoltaic power project on the Copperbelt, in a move is aimed at strengthening Zambia’s electricity generation capacity and reducing the country’s vulnerability to drought-induced electricity shortages.
The project will be developed in three phases, with the first 300MW targeted for commercial operation within 16 months of the agreement’s effective date, followed by 100MW within 22 months and the final 100MW within 28 months.
Speaking during the PPA signing ceremony in Lusaka, ZESCO Acting Managing Director, Fitzpatrick Kapepe said the project is a strategic response to changing rainfall patterns and the need to diversify Zambia’s electricity generation mix.
Mr. Kapepe said the agreement provides a long-term foundation for power security and economic growth, while contributing to the Government’s target of increasing national generation capacity to 10,000MW.
He stated that ZESCO has been working to secure additional power generation following the prolonged electricity shortages experienced between May 2024 and December 2025.
“As Zambia’s national electricity utility, ZESCO remains steadfast in its mandate to generate, transmit, distribute and supply reliable power. Today’s 25-year agreement establishes a resilient foundation for long-term power security and economic growth, especially for the next five years of the government’s Grow Zambia agenda. We must work to achieve our target of 10,000 megawatts,” he stated.
Mr. Kapepe said ZESCO’s strategy involves a diversified generation portfolio covering solar, thermal and hydroelectric power projects, adding that the utility is working towards reaching the Government’s target of 1,000MW by December, with plans to exceed it. “The 500MW solar project is also expected to contribute to community development, with 50 percent of environmental credits generated by the project to be allocated to a dedicated community trust fund,” he added.
At the same event, Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director General, Albert Halwampa said the country was targeting an additional 6,000 megawatts of electricity generation capacity within the next five years to support industrialization, investment and economic growth.
Mr. Halwampa noted that the target, which forms part of Government’s broader ambition to increase the country’s installed generation capacity to 10,000MW, will require strong collaboration between Government, investors and energy sector players.
He said PPAs such as the one signed with Enersynk Group are critical in helping Zambia translate its power generation ambitions into actual investments and projects. “We want to generate extra 6,000 megawatts of power in the next five years,but it’s a lot of work,” he said.
Mr. Halwampa added that the 500MW solar project demonstrates the importance of attracting foreign direct investment into Zambia’s energy sector, particularly as the country seeks to address its electricity deficit and provide reliable power for productive sectors.
He said inadequate electricity remains one of the major concerns raised by investors considering establishing businesses in Zambia, therefore, Government is working to create an enabling environment for energy investments, including through policy stability and faster processing of projects.
And Enersynk Group Founder and Chief Executive Chairman, Jason Temasfieldt said the company’s entry into Zambia marks the beginning of a long-term investment partnership aimed at creating a significant impact in the country’s energy sector and communities.
Mr. Temasfieldt stressed that the Group was committed to investing in Zambia and building lasting relations with the Government and the Zambian people. “We came to build. We have come here to invest. We have come to create impact, and we have come here to build a long-term relationship with the Zambian people and the government of Zambia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Enersynk Group Chief Operating Officer, Arnaud Marolleau stated that the signing of the PPA with ZESCO marks the beginning of a broader collaboration aimed at advancing Zambia’s energy sector.
Mr. Marolleau said the project will require extensive work, including financing, land preparation, feasibility studies and construction, stressing the need for the partners to work as a team and focus on the project’s impact on families and Zambia’s economic growth. “Enersynk is honored to contribute to Zambia’s efforts to expand electricity access and transform the country into a leading energy hub in Africa and beyond,” he added.
The Agreement is expected to support the country’s energy transition as well as deepen cooperation between Zambia and Hungary in renewable energy and infrastructure development.
