CEC REACHES US$1 BILLION MARKET VALUE, BECOMES ZAMBIA’S TOP LISTED COMPANY

The Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (CEC) has made history by being the first Zambian company to hit a market value of US$1 billion, solidifying its status as the most valuable brand on the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE).

As of May 23, 2025, official trading data from LuSE shows that CEC’s market value was K27.1 billion, which is about US$1.24 billion based on the current exchange rate. This significant valuation comes during a strong market upswing and highlights the company’s key role as the main energy supplier for mining activities in both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

CEC’s rise in market value occurs at a time when Southern Africa is experiencing one of its worst droughts in many years, leading to a major drop—up to 70%—in Zambia’s hydropower generation. Even with these tough conditions, market experts believe that the company’s success is due to strong investor trust in CEC’s leadership and strategic plans.

To show its commitment to the future, CEC recently launched a US$200 million green bond to help grow its renewable energy projects. Through its subsidiary, CEC Renewables Limited, the company aims to become the largest solar power producer in Zambia, with a goal of having 236MW of installed capacity by the end of 2025.

Additionally, CEC is working on a second transmission line to boost the Zambia–DRC cross-border electricity network capacity from 250MW to 550MW. This initiative is expected to improve the Southern African Power Pool’s central corridor and position CEC to take advantage of better generation outputs from the southern region.