Mphepo Power is a Zambian renewable energy company, focussed on the development of wind power in Eastern Province, Zambia.
It is a collaboration between the local Chewa community, under the leadership of Kalonga Gawa Undi, and three professional renewable energy companies: Oswald and Kapata, Western Renewable Power and Buffalo Energy.
While we will develop the first generation project in the east of the country, all the power produced is intended to be delivered to the national grid, for the benefit of all Zambians no matter where they live. As an investment, the projects will be transformative to the region through job creation and by helping local businesses.
UNIKA - ‘TO LIGHT UP’
The Project
Mphepo Power has a number of sites across Eastern Province. The first planned site, called ‘Unika I’, is near Katete. The planned capacity for Unika I is 150 – 300MW, and following the successful completion of this first project, Mphepo plan to construct other similar sized phases elsewhere in Eastern Province.
Currently, Mphepo Power is finalising the feasibility study for the Project, including wind measurements, IFC Standard Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Engineering Designs.
The intention is to begin construction in second half of 2021 with commercial operations starting in 2023.
Wind Power
Wind power uses naturally occurring air flows to turn turbines, that in turn, generate electricity. It has become one of the most cost effective renewable energy technologies around the world, and is widely used in both the developing and developed world.
In Zambia, the benefit of wind power is that wind is usually stronger in the winter, when water levels and hydro generation are lower. Therefore it is a good way for Zambia to diversify its energy mix and become less exposed to drought. Unlike other power generation technologies, people can continue their daily lives on the site once construction is finished.
The BOARD
Sipho Phiri - Chairman
Sipho is a senior member of the Zambian business and Chewa communities. His background is in finance, having worked for leading firms in London and Zambia. More recently, he has been involved with development activities in Zambia, founding Western Power Company, the 180MW hydro Project in Western Province and the Leopard’s Hill Memorial Park in Lusaka. His family are originally from Zingalume, near Chadiza in Eastern Province.
Linda Thompson – Managing Director
Linda is a vastly experienced renewable energy professional. For 10 years she led Mainstream Renewable Power’s business development activities on the African continent, and successfully delivered a number of solar PV and wind projects. She also worked in the biofuel industry, and prior to that, worked in the financial services sector in London.
Charlie Troughton - Director
Charlie is a renewable energy professional based in Lusaka, Zambia. He is a founding director of Buffalo Energy, a renewable energy development company with projects across Zambia. Previously, he worked for the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets in their sustainable development division.
Lungisani Zulu - Non-Executive Director
Lungisani is the Board representative for the Chewa Development Trust. He currently serves as legal counsel at the Bank of Zambia and is a Trustee of the Chewa Development Trust.
The Chewa Community
The Chewa people are made up of around 15 million people, mainly in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, although there are significant populations also in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The King is His Majesty Kalonga Gawa Undi, and his administration resides at Mkaika Palace, near Katete, Zambia, where every August, the Kulamba traditional ceremony takes place.
In an innovative partnership, the Chewa Community, through the Chewa Development Trust Registered Trustees, have an equity shareholding in Mphepo Power and the Project Companies. They are an active participant in developing the projects and providing the land. The financial benefit they accrue will go toward improving the life of local people, through the building of clinics, schools, and agricultural schemes.
