Every morning in Mansa, the capital of Luapula Province in northern Zambia, Jane Mulenga walks past the rows of tanks at the city’s new wastewater treatment plant. A long-serving technician in the sector, Mulenga has seen her fair share of infrastructure challenges. But something has changed. And this time, it is not just the new machinery gleaming under the sun.

“We used to worry that power cuts would stop the pumps and overflow the system,” she says. “Now, we have our own energy. It’s a huge relief. We no longer have to worry about disruptions, and we know we’re doing something great for the environment.”

Electricity shortages are a recurring problem in Zambia, particularly during periods of drought that limit the country’s hydropower generation. These outages are more than an inconvenience. For Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LpWSC), they have threatened the delivery of essential services to some of Zambia’s most remote communities.

But LpWSC decided to take a different approach. With the support of German water utilities and through the European Union Water Operators’ Partnerships (EU-WOPs) programme, coordinated by the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA), an UN-Habitat initiative, the utility invested in an innovative solution: turning waste into energy.

At the heart of the project is biogas. Methane is released when organic waste decomposes and, at the new plant, that gas is captured and converted into electricity. The result is a self-sufficient facility that now powers its own treatment operations and pumping stations.

“This project is not just about energy. It is about leadership in the face of crisis,” says Golden Manyanga, Senior Manager Engineering at LpWSC.

“We saw the challenges of climate change and energy insecurity and chose to respond with innovation. By turning waste into power, we are showing that a Zambian utility can lead the transition to clean, reliable and homegrown energy solutions. We are not waiting for change. We are creating it.”

The solution came to life through technical exchanges with three German partners – Stadtentwässerung Dresden, Fernwasserversorgung Elbaue Ostharz and Zweckverband Wasser Abwasser Vogtland. Engineers and operators worked side by side in Mansa, sharing knowledge, running workshops and developing practical tools to overcome the region’s unique challenges.

Beyond stable electricity, the project brings significant environmental and health benefits. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is now being captured rather than released into the atmosphere. The leftover sludge from the biogas process is treated and turned into organic fertiliser, which is made available to local farmers. Jobs are also being created, with staff trained in renewable energy operations – a first for many of them.

For the community, the impact is already tangible. Cleaner water is flowing into nearby rivers, helping to reduce the spread of waterborne diseases. At the treatment plant, improved working conditions mean safer environments for staff and greater continuity in service delivery.

The biogas facility aligns with Zambia’s national goals to improve energy access, diversify supply and build resilience in the face of climate change. It also contributes to international commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation and SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy.

Still, for LpWSC, the priorities remain local and immediate – ensuring that taps keep running and toilets keep flushing even when the national grid falters. As Manyanga puts it,

“We are proud to contribute to Zambia’s energy security and environmental goals. This biogas facility is not just a source of power. It is a proof of concept for what utilities across Africa can achieve with the right support.”

Looking ahead, the utility is exploring opportunities to expand the biogas system and potentially feed surplus electricity into surrounding communities. There are also early discussions about incorporating solar energy into the mix, creating a hybrid model that further boosts energy resilience.

In the meantime, Jane Mulenga and her colleagues continue their work at the plant, operating with a renewed sense of purpose. What was once a waste problem has become a powerful part of the solution – lighting the way for Mansa and beyond.

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