Abstract

Zambia’s electricity sector stands at a pivotal juncture, transitioning from a historically centralized monopoly to an open access framework that seeks to liberalize generation, transmission, and distribution. This paradigm shift, aimed at enhancing efficiency, competition, and sustainability, coincides with global trends toward decentralized and market-based electricity systems. However, Zambia’s transition faces complex challenges like aging infrastructure, liquidity constraints, climate-induced hydropower fluctuations, and institutional inertia. Drawing inspiration from China’s energy transition and power sector reforms, this paper examines how Zambia can effectively navigate its open access era to achieve energy security, affordability, and decarbonization. The study integrates comparative policy analysis, market modeling, and institutional mapping to identify transferable lessons from China’s reform trajectory, particularly its emphasis on unbundling, regulatory independence, market discipline, and renewable integration. Findings suggest that Zambia’s open access regime must prioritize grid modernization, competitive market design, investment-friendly regulation, and diversified renewable integration to avoid replicating legacy inefficiencies under a liberalized structure. The paper proposes a home-grown implementation roadmap, combining market liberalization with social equity, community energy participation, and climate resilience. Ultimately, Zambia’s energy future depends not only on policy reform but on building an adaptive ecosystem, anchored in transparent governance, digital infrastructure, and inclusive growth, to power its next industrial phase.

Keywords

Open access, electricity market, energy transition, power sector reform, renewable integration, energy security, grid modernization, policy governance