Zambia’s state-owned utility ZESCO and Mauritius-based Anzana Electric Group have finalised a $300 million joint venture deal to electrify up to two million people along the Lobito Corridor by 2030.
The agreement unlocks blended commercial and concessional capital to rehabilitate and expand Zambia’s national grid, particularly in underserved rural areas.
“This is about more than infrastructure; it is about regional integration, jobs and powering a better future for Zambians along the Lobito economic corridor,” ZESCO managing director Justin Loongo said.
The partnership builds on a February 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between Anzana and Zambia’s Ministry of Energy.
The collaboration will support new electricity generation, including run-of-river hydropower and electricity distribution primarily in rural areas, efforts which are critical to unlocking the full potential of the Lobito Corridor to the Zambian economy.
Anzana chief executive Brian Kelly described the Lobito Corridor as a model for regional trade and development, noting his company’s experience in East Africa and its commitment to inclusive electrification.
“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,” Kelly said.
Lobito Corridor, connecting Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, is being developed as a strategic economic artery for southern and Central Africa, linking mineral-rich regions to global markets.
As part of the rollout, Anzana will lead a $50 million pilot in Zambia’s North-Western Province beginning in 2026, targeting 40,000 new connections and up to 8 megawatts of new generation capacity.
JN/APA