BREAKING GROUND! COOMA UNVEILS 50 MEGAWATTS SOLAR PROJECT IN CHOMA
A new dawn has set on Southern Province, Zambia’s hub of electricity generation, agriculture, and tourism as Choma district welcomes its first ever 50 Megawatts (MW) solar photovoltaic project, adding to the government’s unfolding national energy mix agenda.
Powered by Zambia’s GEI Power Limited in partnership with YEO Teknologies of Turkey, the 50MW Cooma solar project to be located in Chief Cooma’s chiefdom is strategically intended to boost the country’s electricity generation capabilities and security of supply as the nation races towards attaining a diversified energy mix.
Speaking at the project groundbreaking ceremony in Chief Cooma’s Chiefdom on Friday,09 May 2025, Energy Minister Makozo Chikote said: “This is one of the many solar plants that will address the power deficit we are facing. This is the first phase of the planned 100MW sitting in Southern Province, the heart of Zambia’s power generation. Our expectation is for this province to continue giving us enough power and to continue feeding the entire nation.”
The Energy Minister described last year’s drought as a wake-up call to the nation to seek alternative sources of electricity away from hydroelectricity. “This administration is ensuring that our investments are put in different alternative sources of energy. Never again should Zambia find itself in the situation we have found ourselves today. We will make sure that all the strategies and measures put in place will make Zambia energy sufficient, reliable and affordable,” he said.
And Turkish Ambassador to Zambia Huseyin Barbaros Dicle has described the unveiling of the upcoming project as not only a symbol of innovation and sustainable development but also of the deepening partnership between Turkey and Zambia.
“The collaboration between Zambia’s GEI Power Limited and Turkish Energy Technology YEO Technologies marks a significant milestone. This project will be the first of its kind in Zambia, especially that the solar power facility is integrated with battery energy featuring 50MW peak generation capacity and 20 megawatts hour of storage.”
Meanwhile, Chief Cooma has thanked Republican President Hakainde Hichilema for allowing GEI Power Limited and YEO Teknologies to set up the solar project in Choma district. “This Chiefdom has a unique and different leadership approach, which follows a laid down strategic plan, and our people are very familiar with it. For example, with our German friends we are improving and building schools around and now we have a new friendship with the Turkish, which will lead to the production of energy that will feed the country.” The 50MW Cooma solar project is expected to be completed in December 2025.
ZESCO Limited has partnered with various Independent Power Producers to ramp up electricity production following last year’s drought that has severely strained the country’s hydroelectricity generation.