Zambia receives $34.8 Million from German KfW

The african state Zambia has received $34.8 Million from the german development bank KfW to implement a Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFiT)-Strategy. The funding is to be provided to the GET FiT (Global Energy Transfer Feed-in Tariffs)-program, which aims to cope with climate change and the energy scarcity in the southern African country by supporting private investment in renewable energy facilities, the German development bank told pv magazine on Monday.

“GET FiT” Zambia is a cooperation program between the government, Zesco Limited, the Energy Regulation Board, the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) and KfW.

It focuses on the promotion on small grid-connected renewable energy generation projects between 1 to 20 MW. According to KfW, these can be installed in a very short time and thus contribute quickly to the current energy crisis. In addition, through the expansion of renewable energies, diversification of the energy mix in Zambia will be promoted, energy security enhanced and the country's route to climate-friendly energy generation will be supported. “GET FiT” Zambia Coordinator Will Pearson expects that up to 200 MW of renewable energy facilities will be connected to the grid over the next five to seven years.

According to KfW, in the first phase of the GET FiT-program a PV auction for a total of 50 MW will be launched in 2017. At a later stage, the Zambian government should be in a position to replicate a tender by using the measures developed with support from GET FiT.

In addition, the program contains a mix of different components to create an attractive environment for private investors. This includes standardized legal documents such as Power Purchase Agreements, support in permitting and licensing, as well as a risk reduction for political and economic dangers in cooperation with ATI, the KfW said.