Speaking to Energy Capital & Power at the Critical Minerals Africa 2024 summit last week, Sokwani William Chilembo, CEO of the Zambia Chamber of Mines, explained that the country will prioritize these projects due to the Northern Watershed’s resilience to droughts and El Niño impacts.

“Once we develop hydropower in these areas, we will augment it with some coal from Lake Kariba’s southern shores and additional solar energy,” stated Chilembo.

He said the Chamber is working closely with the government and private partners via the Public Private Dialogue Forum to enhance energy trade with neighboring countries via the Southern African Power Pool.

“We are collaborating with a prominent South African energy trader, and though it’s been a steep learning curve, we’re getting closer to maximizing energy infrastructure to meet government targets for copper output of 3 million tons annually by the early 2030s,” he added.

Chilembo highlighted new legislative drafts designed to strengthen the role of independent power producers in supporting mining needs.

“With resilient energy and modern legislation, we are able to retain the competitiveness and sustain the flow of investments in mining,” stated Chilembo, stressing that a stable mining sector strengthens the broader economy by attracting capital for key infrastructure projects.

Zambia and its southern neighbor Zimbabwe are currently experiencing reduced electricity generation due to low water levels in the Zambezi River - the primary source for their hydropower plants. This has led to power supply disruptions for mining operations. By tapping into alternative hydropower sources, Zambia seeks to reduce the reliance on existing power stations, strengthening supply as the mining industry grows.