The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has approved a total of 1,325 projects in 2024, worth 10 Billion United States Dollars in investment costs.

This is an increase compared to the 1,129 projects worth 7 Billion United States Dollars approved in 2023.


ZEMA Board Chairperson, Lovejoy Malambo, discloses that the majority of projects approved in 2024 were in the mining sector, with 678 projects representing 51 percent of the total.


In a press statement to ZANIS, Professor Malambo revealed that the manufacturing sector ranked second with 217 projects, accounting for 16 percent.



He stated that the energy sector ranked third with 196 projects, while 163 projects were approved in the infrastructure sector.



Professor Malambo noted that the agriculture and tourism sectors had 53 and 18 projects approved, representing 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively.



He emphasised that in light of the ongoing energy crisis, 14 solar and 2 thermal electricity-generating projects were approved adding that the projects are expected to produce a combined total of 1,600 megawatts of power.



Professor Malambo stated that these projects are anticipated to mitigate the energy crisis currently facing the country.



He further expressed gratitude to developers from various sectors of the economy and members of the public for their commitment to complying with legal requirements to undertake Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for their projects.


Professor Malambo also commended them for implementing adequate measures to mitigate any adverse impacts their developmental activities might have on the environment.