NEWS

President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned the 50 megawatts Mansa Solar Plant in Chief Mabumba’s area of Mansa District in Luapula Province.

The project as part of the country’s journey to achieve 10,000 megawatts of installed capacity by 2030, and calling on citizens to unite and work together in building the nation.

Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote said solar projects that were previously criticised by some stakeholders are now yielding results, adding that more projects are still lined up. He thanked President Hichilema for his support and guidance, noting that he is proud that electricity load-shedding is now a thing of the past.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President Hichilema said the project marks a historic milestone for Luapula Province, which has not seen any major power generation investment in over 60 years. He said that the development of the solar plant is a result of deliberate planning, vision and implementation, and not by chance.

“This project is not by luck. Development comes from clear vision, good planning and implementation,” President Hichilema said.

The Head of State noted that the 50MW solar plant will create jobs for local people and support key economic activities such as manganese mining in the province. He urged residents to work closely with Government to unlock more development opportunities.

President Hichilema further emphasised the importance of unity, warning against divisions and conflicts, which he said undermine national progress.

He said a united country is better positioned to attract more investments, including additional solar projects and transmission lines such as the Kasama–Mansa.

He added that the Mansa Solar Project is part of a pipeline of renewable energy projects being implemented by Government to sustainably address the electricity deficit in the country and strengthen energy security.