Monday, July 1, 2024

Zambia Launches Mini-Grid Initiative in Collaboration with Rockefeller Foundation at COP28

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In a groundbreaking move announced on the sidelines of the Conference Of Parties (COP28) in Dubai, President Hakainde Hichilema revealed Zambia’s ambitious initiative to deploy mini-grids across the nation. This landmark program, a collaboration between the Zambian government and prominent partners, namely the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance For People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy For All, aims to revolutionize the country’s energy landscape.

During the announcement, President Hichilema emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts between local and foreign investors in propelling accelerated development. The mini-grid initiative is set to address energy accessibility challenges and stimulate growth in crucial sectors, including agriculture, energy, and rural development.

“We are pleased to embark on this transformative journey with the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance, and Sustainable Energy For All. This initiative symbolizes the power of international partnerships to drive positive change at the local level,” stated President Hichilema.

In recognition of the potential hurdles for smaller installations, the Zambian Government has taken proactive measures by passing a statutory instrument to streamline regulatory processes. This move is expected to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and facilitate the swift implementation of the mini-grid project.

Expressing gratitude to the President of the Rockefeller Foundation, Mr. Rajiv J. Shah, President Hichilema acknowledged the Foundation’s pivotal role in this significant endeavor. Mr. Shah, in turn, highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to the project, announcing the commencement with an initial deployment of 1400 mini-grids and outlining a long-term expansion plan.

“The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to partner with Zambia in this initiative. Our goal is to bring sustainable and reliable electricity to communities, unlocking new opportunities for economic development and improved quality of life,” affirmed Mr. Shah.

President Hichilema echoed the sentiment, noting that the mini-grids will not only address energy challenges but also catalyze economic growth in key sectors. Looking ahead, President Hichilema outlined the ambitious trajectory of the project, projecting an expansion to over 5,000 mini-grids within the next five years.

The launch of the mini-grid initiative marks a significant milestone in Zambia’s pursuit of sustainable development and energy accessibility. As the project unfolds, it is expected to contribute not only to energy transformation but also to the overall socio-economic advancement of the nation.

20 COMMENTS

  1. This man and his attraction to imperialists baffles me. Mr president, do your due diligence when attracting companies which will do us more harm in the long run than the money you are attracted to. These big names are celebrated in their countries of origin for the wrong reasons. What they practice abroad is not what they preach in their home countries.

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    • Provide your alternative to mobilising sufficient capital to overcome energy poverty at notable scale in our most vulnerable people whilst grappling with the other challenges we have as a nation. Life is not about ideals only. Sometimes certain situations require partnerships with entities who, in other more secure times, you would ordinarily not deal with. But yes, it is important to be always wary of the downsides of partnerships and ensure the upside outweighs the downside. That’s pragmatism. You can’t eat ideals.

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    • LSKT-Writers on this platform have a responsibility to stop misleading-information. Start writing to *inform and *educate.

      The term “groundbreaking” is commonly used in a metaphorical sense to describe something Innovative, Pioneering, or Revolutionary. It is often used to refer to ideas, technologies, projects, or events that introduce new and significant developments or bring about substantial changes. ( Mini-Grids are not new technological ideasin the world. They have existed for many decades or century; per say.)

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    • Groundbreaking my foot.
      There are actually no journalists reporting on these things but Propagandists looking for terms and phrases that impress State House. Their aim is not to inform and educate but hoodwink and regulate an uncritical public

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    • @Independent Obsever,
      It is Hamasaka, the Groundbreaking Presidential Adviser who wrote the article, and he is The Significant ZWD Editor-in-Chief.

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    • @ FutureZed: What exactly is the problem with the people HH is meeting? Are these not the same kind of people PF of Michael Satan and Edgar “Johnathan Mutawire” Lungu borrowed (and looted) the US $31 billion from, that is now drowning and destroying Zambia? How come you had no problem when those PF characters were going to these same people to get loans where after 10 years of payments, the principle amount was not affected and stayed exactly the same? If you have an example of where the Rockefeller Foundation committed evil, let us know. I can show you the evil PF has done to the Zambian economy

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    • @INDEPENDENT OBSERVER: Fine, but the fact that something may have existed somewhere else, does not mean that it cannot be ground breaking in a place where it has never been seen or known before. You are obviously just talking for the same of talking to criticise HH

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    • How exactly will this work? Who approached who on the mini-grids? What role will the Rockefeller Foundation play? Are they middlemen for GE? None of the commentators has seen anything here.

  2. Mr. President, I salute you for the ambitious developmental programs you have for the nation. The previous administration did not mean well for Zambia. Their leader was just good at dancing and other illegalities.

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  3. @Muswaka: Do you have minigrids in your village? When HH brings these there, will that not be ground breaking. Please shut up and appreciate an honest man who is trying to do good, instead of borrowing and stealing, as the people you support did, and thus leaving Zambia in debt to the tune of US $31 billion that we do not have, and cannot pay

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  4. The village boy loves taking photos with the imperialist and he thinks other African leaders who don’t succumb to such rubbish are foolish.Museveni is not a puppet

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    • @Angoni: Lusaka is a Soli/Tonga name, because it is in Soli/Tonga area; Kafue is Lenje/Tonga land, Kafue, Mazabuka, Monze, Choma, Livingstone- these are all Tonga land. Since you are calling people “village boys”, please tell me- what is the big city in the area where you come? You are a Ngoni, according to your name, and therefore cannot cite any of the Tonga cities I have already listed.

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  5. People of Zambia educate yourselves about these foundations before getting in bed with them. Their so-called goodwill is only for their greedy benefits in the end the people of Zambia will be slaves to these masters of deceit. Unfortunately, we have political leaders who are very lazy when it comes to understanding geopolitics let alone how the 1% of the world operates and strategizes to control their interests!! theirs is a 100-year plan whereas the African plan does not go beyond the stomach which does not think about future generations at all!!!. Development for Zambia will not come from this president but from everyone by changing the broken CPU’s(mindset) of always thinking solutions lie outside the confines of the borders from the bazungus!!!
    Wake up people!!!!

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