REA has found only US$240 million of the US$1.52 billion it needs to bring power to rural Zambia by 2030

The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) says US$240 million has been mobilised for a plan that needs US$1.52 billion, leaving a gap of US$1.28 billion to reach every Zambian with electricity by 2030. Chief Executive Officer Alex Mbumba said the money so far has come from the Government and the World Bank. Mr Mbumba was speaking on a panel on turning rural power access into productive use at the 3rd Zimbabwe-Zambia Energy Projects Summit in Livingstone. "If you read the Electrification Master Plan, you will see that it provides an envelope of US$1.52 billion required," he said. He said the plan aims to get people connected through solar mini-grids and solar home systems, and will help close the gap between the private and public sectors. ## Background The updated Rural Electrification Master Plan was launched at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in April. It replaced a 2008 plan that aimed for 51 percent rural access with a target of universal access by 2030. Makozo Chikote, then the Energy Minister, said the old plan no longer matched new district boundaries, population movement and rising rural demand. He said the new one rests on data and least-cost mapping, which decides where to extend the grid, where to build mini-grids and where to use stand-alone systems. The Government's plan leaves much of the investment to private companies, with the State setting the rules. The plan, prepared by the Rural Electrification Authority with NRECA International, puts rural access at 34 percent in the 2023 National Energy Access Survey and costs the 2025 to 2030 programme at about US$1.52 billion, or roughly US$253 million a year. At its April launch, REA said it was aiming for 2.5 million connections by 2030. A digital platform for the public to follow progress was promised by the end of 2026. Finding private money for power is not simple. Zesco was reported this week to owe independent power producers US$109.7 million. At the same Livingstone summit, Western P