USAID SAEP – ZAMBIA COUNTRY PROFILE

The Government of Zambia has committed to achieving universal electricity access for all Zambians by 2030, requiring an increase in power generation capacity and a strategy to bring power to millions of unelectrified households. SAEP builds its activities in Zambia on the findings of a 2018 SAEP-funded power sector assessment and geospatial model. To address the issue of limited energy access, SAEP is working with stakeholders to expand grid access and deliver off-grid power options, including household and mini-grid solutions. The program has designed a sales force effectiveness training curriculum for sales agents of solar home system (SHS) companies in Zambia, aimed at increasing SHS sales. SAEP is also actively involved in rolling out the training and provides management support to the Solar Industry Association of Zambia (SIAZ). Additionally, SAEP has taken a leading role in shaping the public sector-led Off-Grid Task Force and supported SIAZ in re-drafting fiscal exemptions for solar products. SAEP is also working to promote the integration of renewable energy into the power sector. The program provides a technical advisor to ZESCO Limited to assist the power utility in integrating Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and variable renewable resources into its operations. In support of Zambia's Global Energy Transfer Feed-in Tariff (GET FiT) renewable energy procurement program, SAEP assisted the Energy Regulatory Board in calculating feed-in tariffs for the procurement of 100 MW of small hydropower capacity. To catalyze private sector investment in the energy sector, SAEP provides targeted technical assistance and transaction advisory services to identify and mitigate risks and barriers to new power generation, transmission, and distribution. The program supports projects across the renewable energy spectrum, including on- and off-grid solar, hydropower, transmission, and wind projects of varied sizes. SAEP's advisory services include helping project developers and utilities to secure financing, structure deals, enhance operations, accelerate roll-out, and draft contracts. SAEP also provides ongoing technical support to the Zambian government to create an enabling environment for increased power generation and transmission. Reforms to existing policies and procedures around licensing, tariffs, and power purchase agreements will facilitate increased energy production by streamlining important processes in place to protect the Zambian consumer.