In 2024, energy production was severely affected by drought, brought on by the El Niño weather phenomenon. As a result, energy generation fell to just 1,050MW.

Nevertheless, during this time, rural electricity access was increased from just 8% in 2022 to 34% in 2024. At the same time, urban access has risen from 75% to 83%.

The PDU helped to mitigate power crisis by facilitating private power purchase agreements for big users, as well as encouraging solar panel installation and net metering

PDU is now helping ZESCO to build the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya Power Interconnector, integrating the Southern African Power Pool and the Eastern Africa Power Pool and placing Zambia at the heart of the network.

Meanwhile, major new power projects are coming online across the country, including the 100MW Kabwe Power Station, built by POWERCHINA, which will supply between 30,000 and 50,000 households.

 Similarly, in August 2024, Maamba Collieries broke ground at its new 300MW coal-fired power plant, which is expected to begin generating electricity in 2026.