Zambia has commenced the construction of its second 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant in a bid to address the country’s electricity shortfall. The $400 million project, situated in the Sinazongwe district of southern Zambia, will be managed by Maamba Collieries Limited. This company is predominantly owned by Singapore-based Nava Bharat with a 65 per cent stake, while the Zambian government, through Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings, holds a 35 per cent share.
Construction is projected to take approximately 24 months. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema expressed optimism about the project, highlighting its significance in achieving the government’s goal of energy sufficiency and surplus. He praised Maamba for its commitment to investing in the new power plant and noted that Zambia’s central location in the region makes it an attractive investment hub for the energy sector.
President Hichilema also welcomed the successful outcomes of public-private partnerships and urged further investment in infrastructure projects using this model. The new plant will be identical to Maamba’s existing 300 megawatt facility, which was established in 2016. The additional plant will feature two generating units of 150 megawatts each, bringing the total number of units to four.
The Zambian government has secured a 20-year power purchasing agreement with state-owned Zesco Limited, ensuring a ready market for the electricity generated by the new plant.
