By: Energy capital & power

The World Bank has approved a $200 million grant to support the 13th phase of Zambia’s Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Program.

The program aims to connect over one million consumers in Zambia by 2030, with a focus on underserved and remote communities, as well as business and industrial users. The project will ensure the deployment of new technologies, scaling of pilot projects and local capacity building as well as maintenance of energy infrastructure.

Yadviga Viktorivna Semikolenova, World Bank Practice Manager for Energy in Eastern and Southern Africa, said the grant supports Zambia’s National Energy Compact agenda, under which the country aims to mobilize $11.9 billion in investments to achieve universal energy access by 2030.

The project is also aligned with the World Bank and African Development Bank-led Mission 300 initiative which seeks to connect 300 million people across Africa by 2030.