Solarcentury Africa and Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have signed a Heads of Terms agreement to co-develop a 67 MWp solar power plant near Chisamba, Central Province. The project will connect to Zambia’s ZESCO backbone, reinforcing efforts to address power shortages with clean and sustainable energy solutions.

IDC has secured the project site and conducted initial technical studies, while Solarcentury Africa will oversee the final development, design, financing, and construction of the plant.

Solarcentury Africa brings extensive experience to the partnership, having completed the development of the first 25 MW phase of the 100 MW Kanona Solar Project in Serenje District, which is scheduled for commissioning in Q2 2025. As a member of the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), Solarcentury Africa is actively growing its merchant solar portfolio in Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia, with plans to develop up to 500 MW of solar capacity across the region in the coming years.

The project is primarily designed to supply power to IDC’s large industrial users, helping to alleviate Zambia’s energy deficit and support the country’s economic and industrial growth.

Jason De Carteret, CEO of Solarcentury Africa, commented, “Zambia’s urgent need for reliable power makes this project a crucial step towards energy security. We are very excited to partner with IDC to develop sustainable solutions that support Zambia’s economy and industrial sector. We look forward to working closely with the IDC to bring this project to life and to further our commitment to renewable energy development in Africa.”

Cornwell Muleya, Chief Executive Officer of IDC added, “We are thrilled to partner with Solarcentury Africa to deliver a project that will have a significant impact on Zambia’s energy landscape. This project is a testament to our commitment to supporting Zambia’s industrialization agenda and reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. Furthermore, this project aligns perfectly with Zambia’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix. By harnessing Zambia’s abundant solar resources, we are contributing to a more diversified and sustainable energy sector, which will drive economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy security for generations to come.”

This partnership represents a significant step in enhancing Zambia’s renewable energy capacity, providing clean and reliable power to industrial users while supporting the country’s climate and economic development goals.

Website	https://www.zesco.co.zm/
Domicile	Zambia
Countries Active	-
Financial Instrument	-
Organization Type	Off-taker

Organization	Country	Role
ZESCO		Off-taker
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Zambia		EPC Contractor
Solarcentury Africa		EPC Contractor

ZESCO

Projects

Organizations

Updates