The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $14.54 million financing package to support the Garneton North 20-megawatt solar power project in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province — a key milestone in the country’s shift toward renewable energy and energy security.
The financing includes $7.27 million from the Bank’s own resources and an equal amount in concessional funding from a Development Finance Institution. The project underscores the AfDB’s commitment to closing Zambia’s energy deficit and aligns with Mission 300, which aims to provide 300 million Africans with electricity access by 2030. Zambia joined the initiative’s first cohort in January 2025.
Once completed, the $24.5 million project will provide clean, reliable electricity to over 82,000 people, cutting annual carbon emissions by about 58,740 tonnes. It will be connected to the national grid through a 10-kilometre, 33 kV power line, with ZESCO purchasing all generated electricity under a 25-year take-or-pay Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Wale Shonibare, AfDB’s Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulation, described the project as “a key milestone in Zambia’s efforts to restore investor confidence in its power sector, attract private capital, and close the energy gap while advancing Mission 300.”
The Garneton North solar plant is part of six renewable energy projects selected under Zambia’s Global Energy Transfer Feed-in Tariff (GETFiT) programme, designed to attract private investment into small- and medium-scale renewable projects. In total, the programme is expected to deliver 120 MW of new renewable capacity, helping diversify Zambia’s energy mix and strengthen grid stability.
During construction, the project will create 90 jobs, including positions for women and youth, and employ 10 staff during operations. It is also expected to ease pressure on Zambia’s strained grid, reducing blackouts and supporting a more reliable power supply across the country.
Jing Li, Division Manager for Energy Financial Solutions at the AfDB, said the project marks Zambia’s continued effort to reduce its dependence on hydropower. “By expanding renewable generation, the project will lower the frequency of power outages, enhance supply reliability, and support cost-reflective tariffs,” she explained.
The initiative aligns with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033) and the New Deal on Energy for Africa, supporting broader goals such as climate action, youth employment, gender inclusion, and private-sector participation.
Once operational, the Garneton North solar project will stand as a cornerstone of Zambia’s renewable energy ambitions—building investor confidence, cutting emissions, and strengthening the nation’s long-term energy resilience.
