ZESCO

ZESCO, formally Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited, is Zambia's state-owned electricity utility and the country's largest power company. Its activities span electricity generation, transmission, distribution, bulk power supply and regional electricity trading. The company is reported to produce approximately 80% of Zambia's electricity consumption and represents Zambia in the Southern African Power Pool, giving it a role beyond the domestic retail supply of electricity. The corporation was established by the National Assembly of Zambia in December 1969. It consolidated responsibilities previously handled by several municipal authorities and three electricity organizations: the Victoria Falls Power Board, the Central Electricity Corporation and the Northern Electricity Supply Corporation. The consolidation created a national utility intended to coordinate electricity infrastructure and expand access across the country. ZESCO's generation portfolio is dominated by hydropower. The company operates nine hydropower stations with a combined potential capacity of approximately 2,217.5 MW, together with eight small thermal plants whose combined potential capacity is about 11.3 MW. The reported total potential capacity is therefore approximately 2,228.8 MW, although actual output can be materially lower because of maintenance problems, equipment limitations, water conditions and operational constraints. Major stations associated with the system include Kafue Gorge Lower, Kafue Gorge Upper, Kariba North Bank, Kariba North Bank Extension, Victoria Falls and Itezhi-Tezhi. ZESCO also participates in arrangements involving privately owned generation facilities, purchasing electricity through power-purchase agreements and supplying it to the national grid or regional customers. The company's transmission and distribution network extends for approximately 9,975 kilometres. Grid coverage remains uneven, particularly in remote parts of Zambia. Some areas in the northwest have historically remained beyond the reach of the national grid, encouraging small private or community-scale generation projects. ZESCO has also worked with external infrastructure and generation partners, including SinoHydro, in efforts to expand the national electricity network. ZESCO's role has become increasingly important during periods of electricity scarcity. Zambia's dependence on hydropower exposes the system to drought, reduced reservoir levels and fluctuations in available generation. Maintenance shortcomings, infrastructure damage and vandalism have added further pressure. Nationwide blackouts were reported in November 2024, while prolonged load-shedding continued to affect households and businesses. The company reported infrastructure-vandalism losses of K5.1 million and property damage of K7.46 million in December 2024. In response to supply shortages, ZESCO commissioned the 100 MW Chisamba Solar Power Plant in June 2025 and entered into agreements with independent producers for additional solar capacity. The utility also has a commercial and regional-supply function. In June 2022 it signed a 13-year Bulk Supply Agreement with Copperbelt Energy Corporation, with a stated supply limit of 380 MW. ZESCO has entered into other power-purchase arrangements, including an agreement under which GL Africa Energy supplies more than 105 MW to the national grid. The company also owns a 40% stake in EL Sewedy Electric Zambia Limited. In July 2022, Managing Director Victor Mapani announced plans to deploy electric-vehicle charging stations across Zambia, linking the utility's infrastructure role to transport electrification and emissions reduction. ZESCO is therefore both a public-service institution and a central commercial actor in Zambia's economy. Its position is shaped by the need to extend access, maintain a geographically dispersed network, secure adequate generation and manage the financial consequences of power shortages. The company has also faced public debate over borrowing, infrastructure investment and the strategic implications of Zambia's external debt. Government representatives rejected claims that ZESCO had been pledged as collateral for Chinese debt, but concerns about utility indebtedness and national energy sovereignty have remained part of the wider discussion around the company.

ZESCO was created in December 1969 through legislation passed by the National Assembly of Zambia. Its formation brought together electricity responsibilities that had previously been divided among municipal authorities and three established utilities: the Victoria Falls Power Board, the Central Electricity Corporation and the Northern Electricity Supply Corporation. The new corporation was intended to provide a more integrated national framework for generation, transmission and distribution. Over time, ZESCO became the principal electricity utility in Zambia. Its system developed around the country's substantial hydropower resources, including facilities on the Kafue and Zambezi systems and other major river basins. The company expanded a national transmission and distribution network while also becoming involved in electricity exchanges with neighboring countries through the Southern African Power Pool. In addition to operating its own generating stations, ZESCO established power-purchase relationships with independent producers and private energy companies. The utility's infrastructure has not provided uniform coverage throughout Zambia. The national grid has historically failed to reach some remote areas, including parts of the extreme northwest. Limited grid extension in those areas contributed to the development of small-scale private generation, including projects designed to serve isolated communities. ZESCO also pursued partnerships intended to expand the national network and increase generation capacity, including cooperation with SinoHydro. ZESCO's operating performance has been constrained by the condition of some generating and network assets. Reported potential generating capacity has exceeded the level consistently available in practice because of maintenance deficiencies, equipment problems and other operational limitations. The system's heavy reliance on hydropower has made it vulnerable to drought and reduced water availability. These constraints have contributed to load-shedding and power interruptions affecting residential, commercial and industrial users. The company has continued to use commercial agreements to manage supply and regional demand. In 2022, it signed a 13-year Bulk Supply Agreement with Copperbelt Energy Corporation for a stated maximum supply of 380 MW. It has also purchased power from privately owned plants and supplied electricity onward to domestic and regional users. ZESCO owns a 40% interest in EL Sewedy Electric Zambia Limited, illustrating its participation in selected energy-sector ventures beyond its directly operated assets. During the 2020s, supply reliability and financial sustainability became increasingly prominent issues. Nationwide blackouts were reported in November 2024, and prolonged load-shedding continued amid generation shortfalls. The utility also reported significant losses associated with vandalism and property damage. In response, ZESCO pursued solar and other independent-producer projects to reduce the system's dependence on hydropower. The 100 MW Chisamba Solar Power Plant was commissioned in June 2025, while power-purchase agreements totaling 332 MWp were signed with independent producers for projects expected to be completed by 2026. ZESCO has also explored new forms of electricity demand and infrastructure use. In 2022, its managing director announced plans for electric-vehicle charging stations across the country. This initiative connected the traditional utility business with transport electrification and the longer-term diversification of electricity demand. The corporation has been discussed in the context of Zambia's public debt and relations with Chinese lenders and contractors. Claims that ZESCO could serve as collateral for Chinese debt were rejected by a spokesperson for Zambia's president. Nevertheless, the utility's borrowing, investment requirements and strategic importance have continued to generate public debate because electricity infrastructure is closely tied to national economic security and sovereignty.

• 2025

  Chisamba Solar Power Plant commissioned

  [1]ZESCOen.wikipedia.org

  ZESCO commissions a 100 MW solar facility to help address shortages and diversify the generation mix.

• 2024

  Nationwide blackout pressure intensifies

  [1]ZESCOen.wikipedia.org

  Several nationwide blackouts occur in Zambia as the electricity system faces generation and reliability constraints.

• 2022

  Bulk Supply Agreement with Copperbelt Energy Corporation

  [1]ZESCOen.wikipedia.org

  ZESCO signs a 13-year agreement with Copperbelt Energy Corporation with a stated supply limit of 380 MW.

• 2022

  Electric-vehicle charging network proposed

  [1]ZESCOen.wikipedia.org

  ZESCO announces plans to deploy electric-vehicle charging stations across Zambia.

• 1969

  ZESCO is established

  [1]ZESCOen.wikipedia.org

  The National Assembly of Zambia establishes Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited, consolidating responsibilities previously held by municipal authorities and three existing utilities.

National public electricity utility and strategic infrastructure operator serving Zambia's domestic grid while participating in regional power markets.

• Electricity generation

  Hydroelectric generation

  Hydropower is the core of ZESCO's generation portfolio. The company operates major stations including Kafue Gorge Lower, Kafue Gorge Upper, Kariba North Bank, Kariba North Bank Extension, Victoria Falls and Itezhi-Tezhi. The reported potential capacity of its hydropower stations is approximately 2,217.5 MW, although available output can be reduced by maintenance, equipment and hydrological constraints.

• Electricity generation

  Thermal generation

  ZESCO operates eight small thermal power plants with a combined potential capacity of approximately 11.3 MW and also participates in supply arrangements involving larger privately owned thermal facilities, including the Maamba Collieries power station.

• Electricity infrastructure

  Transmission and distribution network

  ZESCO owns and operates Zambia's main electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. The network is reported to extend for approximately 9,975 kilometres and connects generation assets with residential, commercial, industrial and regional customers, although coverage remains incomplete in some remote areas.

• Power supply

  Bulk electricity supply

  Through bulk-supply agreements and power-purchase arrangements, ZESCO purchases electricity from independent producers and supplies power to industrial and energy-sector customers. Its 2022 agreement with Copperbelt Energy Corporation is one documented example of this business.

• Solar electricity generation · 2025

  Chisamba Solar Power Plant

  The 100 MW Chisamba Solar Power Plant was commissioned in June 2025 as part of ZESCO's response to electricity shortages and its effort to add non-hydropower generation capacity.

• Energy services · 2022

  Electric-vehicle charging infrastructure

  ZESCO announced plans in 2022 to deploy electric-vehicle charging stations across Zambia. The initiative was presented as a way to encourage electric-vehicle adoption, create new electricity demand and support lower transport emissions.

• 2025

  Commissioning of Chisamba solar capacityProduct launch

  Background

  Prolonged load-shedding and hydropower-related supply constraints increased the need for additional generation sources.

  Action taken

  ZESCO commissioned the 100 MW Chisamba Solar Power Plant and pursued additional independent-producer agreements.

  Aftermath

  The project added solar capacity to a generation system historically dominated by hydropower; the source material does not quantify its subsequent effect on outages.

  Source

• 2022

  Plan to develop electric-vehicle charging stationsStrategy

  Background

  ZESCO identified transport electrification as a potential new use of its electricity infrastructure while Zambia considered ways to reduce carbon emissions.

  Action taken

  The managing director announced plans to deploy electric-vehicle charging stations across the country.

  Aftermath

  The source material records the announcement but does not establish the extent or completion status of the proposed network.

  Source

• 2022

  Long-term bulk supply agreement with Copperbelt Energy CorporationStrategy

  Background

  ZESCO needed structured arrangements for supplying a major energy-sector customer while managing domestic generation and regional power commitments.

  Action taken

  ZESCO signed a 13-year Bulk Supply Agreement with a stated supply limit of 380 MW.

  Aftermath

  ZESCO estimated annual earnings of approximately US$150 million from the agreement and approximately US$2 billion over its stated lifetime.

  Estimated revenue from the Bulk Supply Agreement. US$150 million per year; approximately US$2 billion over the agreement's lifetime (2022 announcement and 13-year agreement term)

  Source

1. 1ZESCOen.wikipedia.org