ZRDC Board Chair Dr. Richard Silumbe Calls For Mining-led Power Generation At Zimzam 2025 Summit
Dr. Richard Silumbe, the respected Board Chairperson of the Zambia Research and Development Centre (ZRDC) and a prominent advocate for evidence-based energy policy, has urged Zambia’s mining sector to take a leading role in power generation to help resolve the country’s persistent electricity shortages.
Speaking as a panelist at the Zimbabwe–Zambia Energy Projects Summit (ZimZam 2025), Dr. Silumbe said Zambia’s current energy challenges require decisive collaboration between government, researchers, and the mining industry the country’s largest power consumer and key economic driver.
He stressed that Zambia can no longer rely solely on overstretched traditional power sources, noting that the impact of load shedding has become severe for households and businesses.
“As a country, we must confront these challenges with bold partnerships,” Dr. Silumbe said. “The mining sector must take a leading role in producing power so that we decouple from overstretched generation systems. Our people should not be facing devastating load shedding in some places, only three hours of power in a day. This must be mitigated.”
Dr. Silumbe said he was encouraged by the strong interest shown by mining houses at this year’s summit, describing their growing appetite for investment in power production as a positive and necessary shift.
“We are hopeful with this conference because we have seen real commitment from the mining sector in taking part in power generation,” he added. “This is the kind of development we must support as a nation.”
As Board Chair of ZRDC, Dr. Silumbe has been instrumental in promoting strategic research partnerships that support national development planning, particularly in energy security, innovation, and digital infrastructure. His contribution at the summit highlighted the role of research institutions in shaping sustainable, evidence-based energy solutions.
The ZimZam 2025 Summit one of Southern Africa’s largest annual energy investment gatherings continues with discussions on renewable energy expansion, private-sector financing, and regional power interconnections aimed at stabilising and modernising the SADC energy market.