- Pan African conglomerate Amsons Group signs landmark agreement to develop a 1 GW solar power plant in Zambia.
- Project positions Zambia to accelerate energy diversification and reduce reliance on hydropower.
- Investment signals Amsons Group’s strategic expansion into utility scale renewable energy across Africa.
Pan African energy and manufacturing conglomerate Amsons Group has signed a US$600 million agreement to develop a 1 gigawatt solar power plant in Zambia, marking one of the largest renewable energy investments in the country’s history.
The project will be implemented through Africa Power Generation, a Zambia registered renewable energy investment consortium backed by Amsons Group. The utility scale solar facility forms part of the group’s broader diversification strategy as it expands beyond its established cement manufacturing, logistics and petroleum distribution operations across sub Saharan Africa.
The agreement was formally signed in Lusaka by Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi in the presence of Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema at State House. The high level engagement highlighted the strategic importance of the project to Zambia’s energy security and economic resilience agenda.
President Hichilema described the investment as a transformational development for the country’s power sector, noting that the 1 GW solar plant would provide reliable, clean and non hydro based electricity at a time when Zambia continues to face power deficits driven by prolonged droughts.
He said the project would play a central role in ending load shedding and supporting industrial growth, while helping the government meet its target of adding at least 1,000 megawatts of new solar capacity to the national grid. The President also reaffirmed that large scale private sector investments are critical to achieving Zambia’s longer term goal of installing 10 GW of new power capacity by 2030, aligned with the Mission 300 initiative to electrify 300 million Africans.
Speaking after the signing, Nahdi said the group was committed to supporting Zambia’s energy transition and broader development objectives.
He noted that the solar investment goes beyond electricity generation, with a strong focus on job creation, skills development and long term energy system resilience. He added that Amsons Group is committed to fast tracking project implementation to deliver clean power to Zambian households, social infrastructure and industry as quickly as possible.
The Zambia project also signals Amsons Group’s growing footprint in the African power sector. The company is actively exploring renewable energy opportunities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, leveraging its regional presence and financial strength. This follows recent high profile investments in East Africa, including the acquisition of Bamburi Cement in Kenya and the purchase of a significant equity stake in East African Portland Cement.
Headquartered in Tanzania, Amsons Group operates across the African Great Lakes region with interests in cement, manufacturing and logistics. The solar project will be developed through its dedicated energy subsidiary, Africa Power Generation, working closely with the Government of Zambia and national utility ZESCO.
The investment comes as Zambia strengthens its regulatory and approval frameworks for renewable energy, creating a more predictable and efficient environment for private sector developers. These reforms are expected to support the smooth progression of the project from development to implementation.
Once operational, the 1 GW solar plant is expected to significantly enhance Zambia’s energy resilience, reduce dependence on climate vulnerable hydropower and establish a major new pillar in the country’s clean energy mix.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
For enquiries on the African continent, email: africa@jasolar.com
