Lunsemfwa Hydro Power

What Lunsemfwa Hydro Power does

Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company Limited is an independent hydroelectric power producer headquartered in Kabwe, Zambia, with operating roots dating to 1929. The company owns and operates multiple hydroelectric stations — including the Mulungushi, Lunsemfwa, Muchinga, and Lunsemfwa Lower power stations, supported by infrastructure such as the Mulungushi reservoir gates and Mulungushi diversion dam — with a combined installed capacity of 56 MW. Its sole primary offtaker is ZESCO, Zambia's national electricity utility, which purchases output under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement; the company also holds a South African Power Pool (SAPP) trading license that enables regional energy trade across Southern Africa.

The business model is a regulated independent power producer structure: revenue is generated by selling electricity through the ZESCO PPA and, where commercially advantageous, via the SAPP cross-border market. Pricing terms are not publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct to enterprise/utility buyers through bilateral long-term contracts rather than through retail or SMB channels, and the marketing presence is limited to corporate communications, supplier registration portals, and operational news updates on the company website. Operations are supported by a lean management team led by CEO Alpha Mwale, with Lars Ellegård (Country Manager at SN Power Zambia), CTO Eric Fulaza, and CFO Nsama Kachasa.

In March 2026, Globeleq completed acquisition of a 51% equity stake from Norfund, marking Globeleq's first hydropower investment in Africa and its entry into Zambia's energy market. Under the new ownership, the company has initiated diversification beyond its legacy hydro base: a 27 MWp solar PV project is under construction, a 200 MWp solar portfolio is in the growth pipeline, and hydropower expansions are planned. The company is also associated with the April 2026 launch of the Leopards Hill Solar and Battery Storage Project (250 MWp solar + 150 MW/600 MWh battery storage), Zambia's largest hybrid renewable development, positioned near Lusaka. Together, these initiatives could materially expand generation capacity beyond the current 56 MW hydro base.

Name

Lunsemfwa Hydro Power

Legal name

Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company Limited

Website

https://lunsemfwahydro.com.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company is an independent hydroelectric power producer headquartered in Kabwe, Zambia, operating 56 MW of capacity across multiple stations and supplying electricity to ZESCO under a long-term power purchase agreement, with regional trading enabled by a South African Power Pool license.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kabwe

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Power Generation and Sale: Operating two hydroelectric power plants with combined capacity of 56 MW, supplying electricity to ZESCO under long-term power purchase agreements. The company also has a South African Power Pool trading license enabling regional energy trade.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company Limited is an independent hydroelectric power producer based in Kabwe, Zambia, operating multiple hydroelectric power stations (Mulungushi, Lunsemfwa, Muchinga, and Lunsemfwa Lower) with a combined 56 MW capacity. The company generates and sells electricity to Zambia's national utility ZESCO under long-term power purchase agreements and holds a South African Power Pool trading license enabling regional energy trade across Southern Africa.

Product overview

Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company Limited operates as an independent hydro-electric power producer based in Kabwe, Zambia. The company's core offering consists of hydroelectric power generation through multiple stations (Mulungushi, Lunsemfwa, Muchinga, and Lunsemfwa Lower), delivering a combined capacity of 56 MW. Supporting infrastructure includes reservoir gates and diversion dams. The company operates under a long-term power purchase agreement with ZESCO and holds a South African Power Pool trading license enabling regional energy trade. Current expansion projects include a 27 MWp solar PV project under construction and a planned 200 MWp solar portfolio, representing diversification into solar energy alongside hydropower operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mulungushi Hydroelectric Power Station Operating hydroelectric power station in the Mulungushi area contributing to the company's 56 MW combined capacity, supplying electricity to ZESCO.
• Lunsemfwa Hydroelectric Power Station Primary hydroelectric power generation station operating alongside Mulungushi to deliver the company's 56 MW combined capacity to ZESCO under a long-term power purchase agreement.
• Muchinga Hydroelectric Power Station

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ACWA Power: Large global IPP and developer with an active African renewables portfolio — comparable as a multinational independent power producer expanding into emerging-market renewable generation, though larger and more diversified than LHPC.
• Globeleq: LHPC's 51% majority shareholder and one of Africa's largest independent power producers across wind, solar, and thermal — comparable as a pan-African IPP platform and direct strategic reference point for portfolio strategy, although it operates across multiple generation technologies.
• Eskom: South Africa's vertically-integrated state power utility and a key SAPP counterpart — comparable as a regional power-sector incumbent that influences SAPP market dynamics and price formation relevant to LHPC's cross-border trading optionality.
• ZESCO (Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation): Zambia's state-owned national vertically-integrated utility — operates its own hydro generation (Kafue Gorge, Kariba North) and is the sole off-taker for LHPC; comparable as a Zambian power-sector participant, though not a competitive peer in generation sales.

Direct peers

• Bujagali Energy: Uganda-based independent hydropower IPP selling to the national utility under a long-term PPA — closely comparable African hydro IPP model, multinational development-finance shareholding, and SAPP-like regional integration via the East African Power Pool.
• Songas: Tanzanian natural-gas IPP operating under a long-term PPA with the national utility — analogous African single-asset IPP model with development-finance backing, although generation technology differs.
• Itezhi-Tezhi Power Corporation: Zambian independent hydropower producer operating the Itezhi-Tezhi hydro plant under a PPA with ZESCO — directly comparable business model, customer (ZESCO), and Zambian regulatory/SAPP market context.

Others

• Norfund: Norwegian development finance institution that previously held the 51% stake in LHPC and divested to Globeleq — comparable as a development-finance investor in African renewables, not a competitive operator, but provides capital-markets reference for African renewable IPPs.

Emerging players

• Cennergi: South Africa-based independent renewable IPP (wind and solar) operating in the Southern African Power Pool — comparable African renewable IPP serving SAPP-adjacent markets under long-term PPAs.
• Lake Turkana Wind Power: Kenya's flagship independent wind IPP selling under a long-term PPA to the national utility — closely comparable African IPP business model, project-finance structure, and grid-based off-take arrangements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lunsemfwa Hydro Power