LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – The 66th Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) Management Committee (MANCO) Meeting officially opened on March 12, 2026, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, underscored by a call for urgent climate resilience and deeper regional integration.

Opening the session on behalf of the Minister of Energy, Hon. Makozo Chikote, MP, Permanent Secretary for Electricity in the Ministry of Energy – Eng. Arnold M. Simwaba provided critical context on the region’s broader energy strategy:

“Recent droughts have exposed the region’s vulnerability in power generation. It is therefore, imperative that we focus on climate resilience and an optimal generation mix so that load shedding becomes a challenge of the past. Projects such as the Zambia – Tanzania Interconnector aim to link the Southern and Eastern African Power Pools, creating a power market spanning from Cape Town to Cairo, a true precursor to the African Single Electricity Market (AFSEM).”

“With regional electricity access levels averaging around 50 percent, and some countries as low as 20 percent, reliance on grid expansion alone is not sufficient. As Government, we challenge SAPP to embrace off-grid solutions that are grid-ready, allowing for seamless integration into national grids in the future.”

Speaking earlier, CEC’s Head of Business Development and Power Trading, Eng. Mulenga Bwalya, highlighted that the resilience of Southern Africa’s power systems depends on how effectively nations work together as a region.

Addressing delegates from 12 SAPP member countries, he underscored that the strength of the SAPP lies in partnerships that enable countries to share resources and collectively navigate the energy transition.

Strengthening Regional Interconnectivity

A central theme of Eng. Bwalya’s address was the pivotal role of transmission infrastructure as the “backbone” of the SAPP. He highlighted CEC’s significant contributions to regional stability through strategic investments:

• Capacity Expansion: Over the past three years, CEC and its partners expanded the transfer capacity of the Zambia–DRC interconnector corridor from 210MW to 395MW.
• Enhanced Reliability: This investment has directly improved power flows and grid efficiency for customers in both nations and the broader SAPP network.
• Support for Connectivity: Eng. Bwalya also commended the Zambian government’s progress on the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector, which will further strengthen regional integration.

Leading the Renewable Energy Transition

CEC continues to aggressively diversify its generation portfolio to support a climate-resilient energy mix:

• Largest Solar Plant in Zambia: The Company is in the final stages of completing its third solar power plant in Kitwe. Once commissioned, the 136MW facility will increase CEC’s total solar capacity to approximately 230MW.
• Battery Energy Storage (BESS): Through its subsidiary, CEC Renewables, the Company is integrating battery storage into its operations to stabilise the grid and enhance renewable power reliability.
• Balanced Energy Mix: While prioritising renewables, Eng. Bwalya noted that CEC remains committed to exploring firm and dispatchable power sources to ensure system stability.

Future Outlook

Eng. Bwalya expressed strong support for the operationalisation of the Open Access Framework in Zambia, which is expected to facilitate greater private sector participation and more efficient utilisation of transmission infrastructure.

“CEC remains resolute in its mission to support Zambia’s energy security while contributing meaningfully to regional integration,” Eng. Bwalya concluded. “We stand ready to continue partnering with government, utilities, and regional stakeholders to help unlock new investment and power the region’s shared growth.”