ZimZam 2025 mobilises energy players to accelerate regional integration

More than 40 developers will gather in Livingstone from 26 to 28 November to turn Southern Africa’s energy commitments into bankable and interconnected projects.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The main public and private institutions from Southern Africa’s energy sector will gather in Livingstone, Zambia, for the ZimZam 2025 summit, scheduled from 26 to 28 November. The event aims to accelerate financial close for major energy projects by relying on partnerships between governments, investors and developers, amid growing demand and evolving regional production systems.

A platform for high-impact regional projects

Highlighted initiatives include the 100 MW Chisamba solar power plant, the Great Zimbabwe hydroelectric project and the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector (ZTIP). These projects illustrate regional integration efforts while exposing challenges related to transmission infrastructure, project bankability and offtaker risk. Discussions will focus on concrete solutions to structure viable projects tailored to industrial and mining sector needs.

Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), based in Kitwe, Zambia, will act as Country Host. The company recently raised $150mn through a green bond issuance to finance 230 MW in solar projects. This operation confirms CEC’s position as a central player in energy financing in Southern Africa.

Private sector participation and government engagement

More than 40 developers have confirmed their attendance, including Emesco, NOA Group, Axian Energy, Engie Energy Access, Voltalia, Globeleq, JCM Power and HDF Energy. Zambia’s Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, will also speak to present his government’s priorities for regional energy cooperation.

The summit will take place at the Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya, Livingstone Resort, and will address regional interconnections, market structures, innovative financing mechanisms and the technological balance between solar, wind and hydro. The objective remains to transform political commitments into bankable projects while strengthening cross-border flows and supply security.

A turning point for regional energy infrastructure

ZimZam 2025 comes at a time when energy stability has become a key factor for industrial development. Discussions will also focus on the establishment of reliable markets, available financial guarantees and the role of the private sector in mitigating investment risks.

This edition of the summit positions itself as a strategic platform to advance large-scale energy projects in the region. Its format aims to align implementation conditions with market expectations, focusing on profitability, partner reliability and technical feasibility.

Under political pressure, Ademe faces proposals for its elimination. Its president reiterates the agency’s role and justifies the management of the €3.4bn operated in 2024.
Solar and wind generation exceeded the increase in global electricity demand in the first three quarters of 2025, leading to a stagnation in fossil fuel production according to the latest available data.
The Malaysian government plans to introduce a carbon tax and strengthen regional partnerships to stabilise its industry amid emerging international regulations.
E.ON warns about the new German regulatory framework that could undermine profitability of grid investments from 2029.
A major blackout has disrupted electricity supply across the Dominican Republic, impacting transport, tourism and infrastructure nationwide. Authorities state that recovery is underway despite the widespread impact.
Vietnam is consolidating its regulatory and financial framework to decarbonise its economy, structure a national carbon market, and attract foreign investment in its long-term energy strategy.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development strengthens its commitment to renewables in Africa by supporting Infinity Power’s solar and wind expansion beyond Egypt.
Governor Gavin Newsom attended the COP30 summit in Belém to present California as a strategic partner, distancing himself from federal policy and leveraging the state's economic weight.
Chinese authorities authorise increased private sector participation in strategic energy projects, including nuclear, hydropower and transmission networks, in an effort to revitalise slowing domestic investment.
A new regulatory framework comes into effect to structure the planning, procurement and management of electricity transmission infrastructure, aiming to increase grid reliability and attract private investment.
À l’approche de la COP30, l’Union africaine demande une refonte des mécanismes de financement climatique pour garantir des ressources stables et équitables en faveur de l’adaptation des pays les plus vulnérables.
Global energy efficiency progress remains below the commitments made in Dubai, hindered by industrial demand and public policies that lag behind technological innovation.
Global solar and wind additions will hit a new record in 2025, but the lack of ambitious national targets creates uncertainty around achieving a tripling by 2030.
South Korean refiners warn of excessive emissions targets as government considers cuts of up to 60% from 2018 levels.
Ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva adopts a controversial stance by proposing to finance the energy transition with proceeds from offshore oil exploration near the Amazon.
An international group of researchers now forecasts a Chinese emissions peak by 2028, despite recent signs of decline, increasing uncertainty over the country’s energy transition pace.
The end of subsidies and a dramatic rise in electricity prices in Syria are worsening poverty and fuelling public discontent, as the country begins reconstruction after more than a decade of war.
Current emission trajectories put the planet on course for a 2.3°C to 2.5°C rise, according to the latest UN calculations, just days before the COP30 in Belem.
The Australian government plans to introduce a free solar electricity offer in several regions starting in July 2026, to optimize the management of the electricity grid during peak production periods.
India is implementing new reforms to effectively integrate renewable energy into the national grid, with a focus on storage projects and improved contracting.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.