Zambia awards contracts for 312 MW decentralized solar programme

The Zambian government has awarded contracts to a consortium of five Chinese companies for the design, supply, and installation of 2 MW solar photovoltaic power plants in each of the country’s 156 constituencies (Zambia’s government press release, 15/07/2026). Once completed, the decentralized solar facilities will provide a combined installed capacity of 312 MW, with the electricity generated being fed directly into ZESCO’s grid infrastructure.

The 312 MW decentralized solar program will be implemented under Zambia’s Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative (PCEI), the government’s flagship programme aimed at expanding the country’s renewable energy capacity to 10 GW by 2030 while eliminating long-term power shortages.

The five successful bidders are Sunshare Construction Zambia, through a joint venture with China Railway Construction Engineering Group; Chetam Metals Fabrication Zambia, in partnership with ZamChin Construction Company; China Jiangxi International Corporation, through a joint venture with Qingdao Haier Photovoltaic New Energy Company; Golden Baobab Investments Zambia, in partnership with Huawei Technologies Zambia; and China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited.

The selected contractors have been allocated 12 months to complete the implementation and construction of the solar power plants.