POWER & ELEC ZAMBIA 2026

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Arrival airports

Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

ZMW

Zambian kwacha, the local currency for hotel nights, minibus fares, taxi rides and on-site spend around Lusaka. Carry some cash for minibuses and small vendors; card acceptance is solid at central Lusaka hotels but patchier at the New Government Complex Conference Centre stands.

2

LUN

IATA code for Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the international gateway to Lusaka and the arrival point used by most Power Elec Zambia 2026 exhibitors and buyers flying in from South Africa, Kenya, the DRC and beyond.

3

New Government Complex Conference Centre

The exhibition and conference venue on Independence Avenue in central Lusaka that hosts Power Elec Zambia 2026 from 28 to 30 October, within walking distance of the Society Business Park and Cairo Road hotel clusters.

4

IPP (independent power producer)

A privately owned generator that sells electricity into the grid or directly to a corporate offtaker. Zambia's open-market reforms have made IPPs a core buyer group at Power Elec Zambia, sourcing turbines, solar PV, inverters, transformers and grid-connection equipment.

5

PPA (power purchase agreement)

The long-term contract between a generator and an offtaker that fixes tariff and volume for a project. Exhibitors in the solar and genset segments discuss PPA structuring with Zambian mining, utility and commercial buyers during the three show days.

6

ZESCO

Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation, the state-owned utility that runs most of the national transmission and distribution network. ZESCO engineers and procurement staff are a primary visitor segment for switchgear, metering and line-hardware suppliers at Power Elec Zambia.

7

ERB (Energy Regulation Board)

Zambia's electricity and petroleum regulator, responsible for licensing undertakings and approving tariffs. Regulatory context for grid-connection and licensing questions frequently raised by exhibitors on the Lusaka show floor; confirm current rules directly with the Board.

8

SAPP (Southern African Power Pool)

The regional power pool through which Zambia trades electricity with neighbours such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and the DRC. SAPP interconnection standards shape the transformer, protection and metering specifications buyers look for at Power Elec Zambia.

9

Mini-grid

A small, self-contained distribution network, usually solar-plus-storage or hydro, serving a rural community or an isolated mine or farm. Mini-grid developers are a distinct exhibitor and visitor category at Power Elec Zambia given Zambia's large off-grid population.

10

SHS (solar home system)

A small stand-alone solar kit of panel, battery, charge controller and lights or appliance sockets, sold per household. SHS distributors and PAYGo providers use Power Elec Zambia to meet wholesalers and rural distribution partners.

11

BESS (battery energy storage system)

Containerised or cabinet-based battery storage paired with solar, diesel or grid supply to shift load and stabilise voltage. BESS is one of the fastest-moving product groups at the show, spanning lithium-ion, lead-acid and flow chemistries.

12

LV/MV switchgear

Low-voltage and medium-voltage switching and protection assemblies (breakers, ring main units, panels) used from the transformer secondary down to plant distribution. Buyers specify ratings in kA and kV, and check IEC or SANS compliance on the stand.

13

kVA

Kilovolt-ampere, the apparent-power rating used on generator sets, transformers and UPS units. Exhibitors at Power Elec Zambia quote gensets, for example, in kVA rather than kW because the rating includes the power factor.

14

EPC (engineering, procurement and construction)

A turnkey contract model where one contractor designs, sources and builds a power plant or substation. EPC firms attend Power Elec Zambia to meet equipment vendors, local subcontractors and project financiers in one pass.

15

Prepaid meter

A customer meter that is topped up in advance rather than billed monthly, widely deployed by ZESCO and municipal distributors. Smart and prepaid metering, together with vending and data systems, is a recurring category at the Lusaka show.

16

Grid-tie inverter

An inverter that synchronises solar or battery DC output with the local AC grid, typically 230/400 V at 50 Hz in Zambia. Anti-islanding and grid-code compliance are the questions Zambian utility buyers ask first at the show.

17

KAZA UNIVISA

A single visa valid for Zambia and Zimbabwe that some visitors use to add a Victoria Falls or Harare leg to a Lusaka trade trip. Eligibility is nationality-dependent, so confirm current rules before relying on it for Power Elec Zambia travel.