Energy

Of the installed 2,898 MW electricity generation capacity of Zambia, hydro power is the most important energy source with 2,398 MW (83%), followed by diesel and Coal. Zambia has about 6,000 MW unexploited hydro power potential due to abundant water resources, providing an opportunity for investment in hydro power generation. The demand for electricity has been growing at an average rate of 3% per annum, mainly due to increased economic activity in the Country, especially in the Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Mining sectors, respectively. The Country’s growing population has also led to an increase in the demand for other sources of energy such as petroleum and solar energy for transportation and domestic use especially in rural areas, respectively.   The state-owned ZESCO Ltd is the only entity that generates and transmit power, while companies such as the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) procure power from ZESCO for sell to the mines. The energy sector is regulated by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB)