National Energy Policy 2019.

The National Energy Policy (NEP) is a comprehensive document that serves as a guiding force for the energy sector in Zambia. The overall objective of the Policy is to achieve an optimal energy resources utilization to meet Zambia's domestic and non-domestic needs at the lowest total economic, financial, social, environmental and opportunity cost and establish Zambia as a net exporter of energy. Its primary objectives are as follows (i) to steer the development of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution capacity; (ii) to improve the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the petroleum product supply chain; (iii) to encourage the growth and implementation of renewable and alternative energy sources; (iv) to bolster energy supply security by diversifying energy sources with pricing that reflects their true costs. This, in turn, fosters new investments in the sector and expands access to energy services in both rural and urban areas. Furthermore, the NEP takes into account critical concerns such as climate change mitigation and adaptation. It also places a strong emphasis on sustainable sector development and incorporates gender and disability considerations. These efforts aim to increase access to clean and efficient energy, ultimately reducing poverty levels among vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.
The main actions to be undertaken to implement the NEP are (i) review and strengthen the legal and regulatory frameworks for the energy sector; (ii) enhance the institutional capacity and coordination of the Ministry of Energy and other stakeholders in the energy sector; (iii) develop and implement an Integrated Resource Plan to guide the expansion of generation, transmission and distribution capacity using a diverse energy mix, including renewable and alternative energy sources; (iv) develop and implement a National Electrification Strategy and an Integrated Electrification Pathway to increase access to electricity in rural and urban areas using the grid, off-grid and stand-alone systems; (v) promote efficient use of energy resources and technologies through standards, labeling, testing, awareness campaigns, and fiscal incentives; (vi) promote sustainable exploitation of biomass and alternatives to wood fuel, such as biogas, biofuels and gel fuel; (vii) ensure adequate, reliable, and affordable supply of petroleum products and natural gas through effective management and development of the petroleum sub-sector, including infrastructure development and maintenance, pricing, and quality control; (viii) promote private sector participation and investment in the energy sector through cost-reflective tariffs, open access regime, standardized transaction documents, and citizen empowerment; (ix) promote innovation, research, and development in the energy sector to accelerate technological advances and adoption of best practices.