Zesco $519m solar deal

ZESCO Limited has officially entered into a landmark 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Hungary-based climate infrastructure platform EnerSynk Group for the development of a major 500-megawatt (MW) AC solar photovoltaic power project in the Copperbelt Province. Valued at US$519 million, this strategic undertaking represents a critical milestone in Zambia's ongoing transition toward energy security, diversification, and long-term economic resilience following severe drought-induced power deficits that have previously crippled industrial output. Under the terms of the agreement, the extensive solar plant will be executed in carefully structured phases to fast-track generation capacity. The initial 300MW is targeted for commercial operation within 16 months of the project's effective date, followed by an additional 100MW at 22 months, and the concluding 100MW phase within 28 months. Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lusaka, ZESCO Acting Managing Director Fitzpatrick Kapepe emphasized that the project directly addresses the systemic vulnerabilities exposed by changing rainfall patterns on the nation's traditional hydropower grid. The venture is fundamentally aligned with the broader national objective championed by President Hakainde Hichilema's administration to scale up total national generation capacity to 10,000MW over the coming years. With the Copperbelt serving as the industrial and mining heartland of Zambia—where energy demand continues to surge alongside targets to dramatically increase copper production—reliable electricity is paramount. Furthermore, Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director General Albert Halwampa noted that robust private-public partnerships of this caliber are essential for translating national growth ambitions into tangible foreign direct investment and sustainable infrastructure. Beyond immediate energy injection, the project is designed to deliver profound socioeconomic and environmental dividends. Plans include dedicat