Zambia’s Ministry of Energy has announced a landmark order, reducing the approval period for solar power project applications from over 6 months to just 48 hours.
This, it says, will do away with lengthy administrative processes that delay and hinder project development. A streamlined process will now accelerate the expansion of solar power in the country.
Permitting is a major challenge for solar projects in several geographies, especially in the neighboring continent Europe, where the process is considered quite slow-moving despite reforms. A BusinessEurope survey of 2024, cited by the World Economic Forum, found 83% of firms see EU permitting as a key barrier to investing in renewable energy projects. For a 380 kW rooftop solar project, the permitting delay can be up to 2 years, while it can go up to 7 years for onshore wind.
Zambia aims to address this with a 48-hour approval system to boost renewable energy investment. It remains to be seen how this will reflect on the ground.
The Zambian Energy Ministry’s decision is aimed at fast-tracking private sector investment in renewable energy as the country targets adding 1 GW of solar energy to the grid by the end of 2025.
Zambia’s Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, said that this move is part of the country’s broader agenda to create an enabling environment for renewable energy investment.
While the central government will support solar energy development through clear policy frameworks, simplified procedures and bankable power purchase agreements (PPA) to improve the investment climate, Chikote appealed to local authorities and traditional leaders to facilitate land availability for solar energy projects.
The ministry has invited stakeholders with innovative energy solutions to consult and collaborate on strengthening national energy security.
According to the World Bank, Zambia currently relies on hydropower for 80% of its electricity generation, but frequent droughts restrict electricity generation. Solar power, with its quick delivery and versatile application, is then an alternative for the country to help it overcome hydropower dependence.
At the end of 2024, Zambia’s total installed solar PV capacity stood at around 196 MW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), while hydropower’s share of 3.16 GW dominated the total renewable energy capacity of 3.40 GW.
