Zambia and Norway have signed a Mitigation Outcome Purchase Agreement (MOPA) under the Carbon Feed-in Premium (CFIP) programme, marking a major step toward unlocking private sector investment in renewable energy and strengthening the country’s energy security while supporting global climate action.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, 2 January 2026, at the InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka under the two countries’ bilateral Article 6 cooperation framework, which was concluded during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024.
The partnership is expected to enable the addition of up to 300 megawatts of green electricity to Zambia’s national grid and reduce up to 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over a ten-year period.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Green Economy and Environment Mike Mposha said the agreement comes at a critical time as Zambia seeks to diversify its energy mix away from over-reliance on hydropower in the face of climate change.
He said the CFIP programme will incentivise Independent Power Producers to invest in clean energy by providing a carbon-based top-up payment linked to verified emission reductions, known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs).
Mposha noted that the programme will improve project viability, enhance energy security and reduce emissions while contributing to Zambia’s sustainable development goals. He added that the selection of eligible project developers will begin on 1 April 2026 through a transparent process.
Permanent Secretary for Electricity at the Ministry of Energy, Arnold Simwaba—through remarks delivered by Director of Planning and Information Sineva Kambeja—said energy-based carbon trading strengthens project bankability, accelerates renewable energy deployment and enhances grid reliability.
Simwaba said the CFIP programme aligns with the Ministry of Energy’s mandate to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supply, positioning Zambia at the forefront of Article 6 cooperation in Africa. He described the initiative as a strategic investment in the country’s energy infrastructure and green growth agenda.
Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen said Norway was pleased to deepen cooperation with Zambia to support measurable emission reductions and increased clean energy investment.
“Partnerships like this can help accelerate the green transition while maintaining high standards of transparency and integrity,” he said.
Fenella Aouane, Managing Director and Head of Carbon Finance at GGGI, said the agreement will support renewable energy projects in Zambia, including storage capacity additions to improve reliability, under the national Carbon Feed-in Premium Programme. “This is our second historic moment,” she added.
The cooperation is supported by the Norwegian Global Emission Reduction (NOGER) Initiative through the Norwegian Article 6 Climate Action (NACA) Fund, hosted under the Global Green Growth Institute’s Carbon Transition Facility.
Under the agreement, GGGI will act on behalf of Norway, while Zambia National Commercial Bank will aggregate and sell carbon credits on behalf of participating project developers.
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