Strengthening Regional Energy Cooperation: Petrodex, AU, SADC and CEC Unite for Zim Zam 2025
Livingstone, Zambia – 25 November: The 2nd edition of the Zimbabwe–Zambia Energy Projects Summit (Zim Zam 2025) will take place from 26–28 November 2025 at the Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort, bringing together leading policymakers, investors, and energy developers to advance Southern Africa’s clean energy transition. With the participation of the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and headline support from Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) as Country Host, Petrodex as Summit Sponsor, and ZESCO and Standard Bank as Sponsors, the event will be the region’s foremost platform for sustainable investment and regional cooperation.
Petrodex, a fast-growing energy company active across Zambia, Mozambique, and the DRC, joins as Summit Sponsor, reflecting its growing role in renewable development and regional power trading. “Regional power trading will be the next major catalyst for growth, connecting surplus and deficit markets through modern infrastructure and innovation,” said Monie Captan, Deputy CEO of Petrodex West Africa. “Our disciplined approach ensures every project aligns with both commercial viability and regional energy security.”
Standard Bank, also a Sponsor, will highlight financing innovation and investment readiness across energy and mining. “This year’s summit comes at a very exciting time,” said Helen Lubamba, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Zambia (Standard Bank Group). “Zambia’s mining and energy sectors are not just delivering economic value—they’re driving transformation. We’re eager to collaborate with key stakeholders and co-create solutions that elevate the region to its next frontier.”
The African Union Commission (AUC) will convene a High-Level Consultation on the Grand Inga Strategic Coordination Committee, aimed at strengthening collaboration on the continent’s 44-GW Grand Inga Hydropower Project, one of the flagship initiatives under AU Agenda 2063. In parallel, the SADC Secretariat, in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), will hold a Consultative Meeting on the Draft SADC Just Energy Transition (JET) Framework, which seeks to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy by 2050.
“These programmes highlight how regional cooperation can move from ambition to implementation,” said Dr. Mavis Mwape of the SADC Secretariat. “The corridors of cooperation we are building across Southern Africa are not just about infrastructure—they are about a shared, just, and sustainable energy future.”
The Honourable Makozo Chikote, Zambia’s Minister of Energy, will open the summit, reaffirming the country’s commitment to regional energy integration and public–private collaboration. ZESCO will present recent policy and regulatory reforms that have enhanced predictability and strengthened investor confidence. “Zambia’s evolving energy policy has fundamentally improved investor confidence,” said Justin Loongo, ZESCO Managing Director. “Through open access and predictable tariffs, we’ve created an environment where public and private partners can deliver real progress. Cooperation between ZESCO, investors, and financiers is transforming our grid into a regional power trading hub.”
With the participation of Petrodex, CEC, ZESCO, Standard Bank, the African Union, and SADC, Zim Zam 2025 will focus on financing the SADC Just Energy Transition Framework, strengthening interconnections, expanding renewable capacity, and fostering cross-border investment. The summit stands as Southern Africa’s defining platform for translating regional energy cooperation into lasting development outcomes.
