Solarcentury Africa to Build 112MWp Zambian Power Plant
The new Kusoka Solar Plant will supply energy to major mining operations and the Southern Africa Power Pool.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Energy
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Should countries prioritize cross-border power sharing to address national electricity shortages?
Solarcentury Africa is set to construct the 112MWp Kusoka Solar Plant in Zambia. The facility is designed to support the electricity needs of FQM Sentinel copper and Enterprise nickel mines.
Why it matters
The project operates on a merchant power model, allowing it to diversify electricity supplies for mining operations while feeding energy into the broader regional grid. This integration helps address supply gaps across the Southern Africa Power Pool.
The Kusoka Solar Plant adds 112MWp of generation capacity to a regional grid that currently holds 60.7GW of total capacity against 50.8GW of peak demand. Zambia currently reports 224MW of generation capacity in excess of its own peak demand.
The players
Solarcentury Africa
This renewable energy company specializes in the development and construction of solar power projects across the African continent.
Southern Africa Power Pool
This is a cooperative organization formed by 12 countries to coordinate the reliable supply and transmission of electricity across the region.
FQM
First Quantum Minerals is a major international mining company that operates large copper and nickel facilities in Zambia.
The details
The facility will sell power directly to mining operations and other organizations via the Southern Africa Power Pool, which includes 12 participating countries. Seven of these nations currently lack sufficient domestic capacity to meet their own peak power demands.
Timeline
The 100MW Kabwe solar power plant was inaugurated in 2025.
The Big Picture
The project follows the pattern of grid-integrated energy expansion established by the Southern Africa Power Pool regional grid integration protocols. By utilizing a merchant power model, this facility contributes to a shift in how energy is distributed across the pool's 12 member nations.
This project impacts industrial stability by providing a more reliable energy source for large-scale mining operations. By feeding excess capacity into the regional grid, it also helps stabilize power availability for areas currently facing supply deficits.
The takeaway
Large-scale solar investments are increasingly serving the dual purpose of supporting industrial operations and stabilizing regional power markets. These merchant-based models represent a growing trend in addressing localized energy deficits through cross-border cooperation.
Further reading
For more on regional infrastructure trends, see the Energy section.
Live Poll
Should countries prioritize cross-border power sharing to address national electricity shortages?
