Zambia Scaling Solar Programme

In July 2015, the President of the Republic of Zambia, formally directed the Industrial Development Corporation Limited (IDC) to drive the urgent development and installation of at least 600 MW of solar power, in order to redress the current power deficit in Zambia and resultant national crisis. 

IDC has engaged the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, as its lead transaction advisor.  With IFC’s support, IDC has adopted the World Bank Group’s ‘Scaling Solar’ initiative as the fastest and most transparent procurement process to meet the President’s directive.  Scaling Solar is an open, competitive and transparent approach that facilitates the rapid development of privately-owned, utility-scale solar PV projects in sub-Saharan Africa.  It is capable of immediate implementation and offers a ‘one-stop-shop’ package of advisory services, contracts, financing, guarantees and insurance, enabling governments and utilities to procure solar power transparently and at the lowest possible cost.

Scaling Solar is based on the principle of tariff minimization and uses a competitive auction bidding process to determine the lowest tariff and consequently the winning bid to develop the allocated amount of solar PV power at a given location.

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