Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema says the country needs to double its power generation to grow the economy.
The country, Africa’s second-biggest copper producer, has an electricity generation capacity of 3,500 megawatts and last month signed a $2bn deal with the United Arab Emirates to build solar plants.
President Hichilema says they were only able to invest in 3,500MW in 57 years after he commissioned a 33MW solar plant in the northern town of Kitwe.
The head of Zambia's power supplier, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, said the country has the potential to become a hub for regional power trade.