Sino Green and Longi Solar to Start Zambia’s 1 GW Solar Push with 100 MW Itezhi-Tezhi Project

Longi Solar Technology and Sino Green Technology have committed to developing up to 1 gigawatt of solar power capacity in Zambia after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Zambian government. The agreement marks a major step in the country’s efforts to expand renewable energy and strengthen power supply through large-scale solar deployment.

As part of the agreement, the companies will first build a 100-megawatt pilot solar power plant in Itezhi-Tezhi District. Construction of this pilot project is expected to begin in April 2026. Based on the performance and progress of the pilot plant, additional solar projects will be developed across different parts of the country to reach the overall target of 1 GW. Each solar plant is expected to take around eight to ten months to complete.

The MoU was signed by Engineer Arnold Simwaba, Permanent Secretary for Electricity at Zambia’s Ministry of Energy, and James Jin, President of Longi Solar for the Middle East and North Africa region. During the signing ceremony, Simwaba encouraged the companies to move quickly with project execution and assured them of full support from the Zambian government. He also said the agreement reflects the growing cooperation between Zambia and Chinese renewable energy companies, strengthened after President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to China in 2025.

James Jin praised Zambia for its efficient approval processes and strong institutional support. He reaffirmed Longi Solar and Sino Green’s commitment to delivering the full 1 GW solar capacity. He also noted that Zambia imported around 500 MW of Chinese solar panels in 2025, of which about 300 MW were manufactured by Longi Solar, underlining the company’s expanding role in Zambia’s energy transition.