Afripoli

Zambia’s power capacity nearly doubles peak demand as solar grows

9 October 2026

Zambia’s installed generating capacity has reached 4,722 megawatts (MW), up from 3,777 MW in 2024 and nearly twice peak demand of about 2,400 MW, energy ministry figures presented on 8 October show. Solar capacity rose from 178 MW to 1,028 MW, passing the 2026 target, after a drought in 2024 cut hydropower output and caused long power cuts. President Hakainde Hichilema warned that transmission and distribution lag behind new generation. A planned $300 million line from Kalumbila to Kolwezi, backed by a Congolese sovereign fund, Trafigura and the investor Gridworks, would carry up to 550 MW to the copper mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Grid investment will decide how much of the surplus Zambia can sell.

Energy & Industry · Tags: Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Trafigura, Gridworks

Sources

More from the Daily Brief

9 October 2026

Oil above $100 deepens strain on African fuel importers

Rising oil prices keep pushing up costs for Africa's fuel importers: Brent crude jumped about 5% to around $105 a barrel on 8 October after new attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

9 October 2026

Moody’s turns sub-Saharan Africa sovereign outlook positive

Credit ratings are improving across sub-Saharan Africa: on 7 October Moody's turned its outlook for the region's governments to positive, citing falling debt and borrowing needs.

9 October 2026

Mozambique sets plan to clear $1.27 billion in arrears

Mozambique's government on 8 October set out a plan to settle arrears of up to 81.3 billion meticais ($1.27 billion), including 38.9 billion meticais in unpaid bills to suppliers.

9 October 2026

Burkina Faso bans privatisation of strategic state companies

Burkina Faso's cabinet on 8 October adopted a bill banning the privatisation of strategic state companies and allowing the state to take stakes in any company it deems strategic, together with the 2027 budget bill.

9 October 2026

Niger’s petrol shortfall widens despite domestic refinery

Niger's petrol supply gap keeps widening: the shortfall reached 196.6 million litres in the first eight months of 2026, against 159.7 million litres in all of 2025 and 47.3 million in 2024.

9 October 2026

Moove exits Nigeria and hands drivers vehicles worth $26 million

Moove, a vehicle-financing company founded in Lagos and backed by Uber, said on 8 October that it will end its Nigerian operations after six years.

All Daily Briefs