Zambia Advances Universal Electricity Access As ZESCO And Anzana Form $300 Million Joint Venture To Connect 2 Million People Along The Lobito Corridor By 2030

ZESCO Limited (ZESCO), Zambia’s national electricity utility, and Anzana Electric Group (Anzana) have agreed on the main terms of a joint venture to bring electricity to millions of people along the Zambian section of the Lobito Corridor. The project, valued at around US$300 million, will focus on rehabilitating and expanding Zambia’s national electricity network to provide first-time grid connections for nearly two million people by 2030. This effort supports the Zambian Government’s vision of achieving universal access to electricity across the country.

The agreement between ZESCO and Anzana was witnessed by President Hakainde Hichilema during the inaugural Invest Zambia International Conference in Lusaka in July 2025. What began with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Anzana and Zambia’s Ministry of Energy in February 2025 has now advanced into finalized joint venture terms, paving the way for blended financing from both commercial and concessional capital sources amounting to approximately US$300 million.

The partnership is not only aimed at connecting households, businesses, and industries to the electricity grid but also includes investment in distributed generation projects to strengthen the reliability of supply in the service area. A significant focus will be on new renewable energy sources, including run-of-river hydropower, and rural electrification efforts that are vital for unlocking the economic opportunities of the Lobito Corridor.

“This is about more than infrastructure, it is about regional integration, jobs, and powering a better future for Zambians along the Lobito economic corridor,” said ZESCO Managing Director Eng. Justin Loongo. We are excited to partner with Anzana who is employing an innovative and inclusive approach to attract capital and rapidly increase electrification rates in rural Zambia.”

Brian Kelly, CEO of Anzana, stated, “The strategic Lobito economic corridor approach is a model for future regional trade and development. We are honored to partner with ZESCO and the Government of Zambia to be the Lobito electrification partner and connect millions of Zambians to the opportunities that reliable electricity can enable. This partnership builds on Anzana’s deep experience in the region, including our development of Weza Power in Burundi, and reflects our commitment to win-win partnerships enabling African countries to lead the next wave of electrification and economic growth.”

The Lobito Corridor, which links Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is emerging as an important economic route for Southern and Central Africa. It is expected to boost trade flows between the region’s mineral-rich areas and international markets. To support this development, Anzana will lead the rollout of a pilot project in Zambia’s North-Western Province, scheduled to begin delivering results in 2026.

This pilot will involve US$50 million in investments from Anzana and development partners, enabling about 40,000 new household and business connections and generating up to 8 megawatts of additional electricity within two years. Following this, the initiative will expand to cover the entire Zambian section of the Lobito Corridor, creating a lasting impact on both electrification and economic growth.