The Zambian government has launched a $15 million programme to accelerate the rollout of mini-grid electricity systems in rural areas, targeting universal energy access by 2030 while mobilising private investment and advancing the transition to clean energy sources.
The initiative, known as the Africa Mini-Grids Programme (AMP Zambia), will be implemented over four years by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project forms part of a continental programme spanning 21 African countries and aims to create a sustainable and attractive market for mini-grid development.
Of the $15 million in total financing, $13.45 million represents co-financing secured by REA in the form of a grant, while the Global Environment Facility (GEF) contributes $1.36 million, administered by UNDP. The financing structure is designed to leverage both public and private resources to accelerate rural electrification.
At the programme’s launch ceremony, Permanent Secretary for Electricity at the Ministry of Energy, Arnold Simwaba, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for renewable energy investment.
“In recent years, significant progress has been made in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for off-grid electrification. We continue to promote investor confidence and remain committed to ensuring that rural communities benefit from modern, reliable, and sustainable energy services,” he said.
REA Executive Director Alex Mbumba highlighted the project’s direct impact, noting that “through the Zambia Mini-Grids Project, 4,396 people are expected to directly benefit from improved access to clean, reliable, and sustainable energy through a pilot project featuring mini-grids with a combined installed capacity of 450 kW.”
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Laurent Rudasingwa underscored the significance of Zambia’s leadership within this regional initiative.
“While this is a regional programme, it is also a Zambia-led programme in every sense of the word. At a time when official development assistance is declining globally, the path forward will increasingly depend on the ability of African countries to mobilise their own resources and set their own priorities — and Zambia is leading by example. This commitment demonstrates what it means for a country to invest in its own transformation, using catalytic financing to unlock resources far greater than the initial contribution,” he said.
Rudasingwa added that the programme’s ambitions extend well beyond infrastructure construction. “We will not measure success solely by the number of mini-grids installed. We will know we have succeeded when a private developer decides to build, on their own initiative, in a Zambian village; when a mini-grid is still operating ten years after commissioning because the tariff is sustainable, the technicians are local, and demand is real; and when women are no longer just energy consumers but owners of the businesses that energy makes possible,” he concluded.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/27/mundo/africa/zambia-governo-lanca-programa-de-15-m-para-expandir-electrificacao-rural/
