Tucked away in the far northwest of Zambia, not far from the roaring currents of the Zambezi River, something unusual is happening. It’s not a traditional development project or a government-backed electrification drive. Instead, it’s a shipping container filled with humming computers—mining bitcoin.
This isn’t the start of a sci-fi novel. It’s a real-world initiative led by Gridless, a Kenya-based company that sees opportunity where others see logistical nightmares. Here in the bush, miles from the nearest city, cryptocurrency is acting as a catalyst for electrification and economic uplift.
From Mission to Mining: A Power Plant’s Second Chance
The Zengamina hydro-power plant, originally built to power a mission hospital and nearby villages, faced an economic dilemma. Funded through charity donations, it could produce plenty of electricity—but demand in the sparsely populated area was low. Much of its power went to waste, and the costs of maintaining operations were piling up.
Then came Gridless, with a novel pitch: let us use your excess power to run bitcoin mining rigs, and we’ll share the revenue. The deal was struck. Now, those noisy computers inside the shipping container verify bitcoin transactions 24/7, pulling in steady income from the global crypto economy.
The result? Zengamina no longer wastes electricity. Instead, it uses that income to maintain operations, keeping the lights on—literally—for 15,000 people in the surrounding region.
Local Impact: Life After Darkness
The impact on the local community has been dramatic.
Take Damian, for example—a barber who only got connected to electricity a year and a half ago. Before that, his shop was dark and silent. Now it glows at night with Christmas lights, a booming stereo, and a queue of customers. He’s earning enough to support his family and pay for education, all thanks to a consistent energy supply.
Or sisters Tumba and Lucy Machayi, who sit scrolling on smartphones at the village crossroads. “Before power came, it was just bush,” Lucy laughs. “No fridge, no signal, no TV.” With electricity, communication, business, and learning are finally possible.
Crypto’s Controversial Role: Problem or Potential?
Globally, bitcoin has drawn heavy criticism for its massive energy consumption. Headlines often paint it as a wasteful luxury for tech elites. But what’s happening in Zambia flips that narrative. Here, crypto is tapping into stranded renewable energy—power that existed but lacked users—and turning it into something valuable.
Gridless argues that this model is more than sustainable—it’s scalable. In Congo, they’re mining bitcoin using hydro power from Virunga National Park. The revenue there funds wildlife conservation. The company now aims to build its own run-of-river hydro plants, using mining to fund early stages and gradually shifting power to local communities.
The Bigger Picture: Incentives That Work
What makes this model work is incentives. Bitcoin mining provides an immediate, high-value customer for rural energy producers. This income helps them survive the early years before the grid expands or local demand rises.
But it’s not without criticism. Some governments fear that crypto miners might divert electricity away from communities. Others point to examples like Kazakhstan or Texas, where mining has strained public grids during high demand. Responsible regulation and local-first energy policies are key to avoiding these pitfalls.
A Temporary Guest with a Lasting Legacy
Interestingly, Gridless doesn’t plan to stay in Zengamina forever. As the power plant connects to Zambia’s national grid, it will no longer have excess energy to spare. When that happens, the mining container will move to its next site—leaving behind a stronger, more sustainable power network.
“Mining here is just phase one,” says Philip Walton, Gridless co-founder. “We’re glad to make bitcoin, sure—but the real win is helping people get power they can build their lives on.”
Conclusion
Bitcoin mining may still spark fierce debate globally, but in Zambia, it’s doing something few expected: making life better.
By aligning economic incentives with clean energy and local development, companies like Gridless are offering a new vision—where blockchain meets the bush, and digital innovation lights the way for the underserved.
If this model continues to succeed, the hum of mining rigs might become a welcome sound in more villages across Africa—a sign that technology, when thoughtfully applied, really can empower the people it used to overlook.
FAQs
What is the main idea behind this bitcoin project in Zambia?
The project uses excess electricity from a rural hydro-power plant to mine bitcoin. The revenue from mining helps sustain the plant and makes electricity affordable for the local community.
Who is behind the initiative?
The project is led by Gridless, a Kenya-based company that partners with renewable energy producers in Africa to use surplus power for bitcoin mining.
Why use bitcoin mining in rural areas?
In many rural regions, energy plants produce more power than the local population can use. Bitcoin mining offers an immediate customer for this surplus, turning wasted energy into income that supports grid expansion and maintenance.
Is this kind of bitcoin mining environmentally sustainable?
Yes. Unlike many mining operations that rely on fossil fuels, this project runs entirely on renewable hydroelectric power, using energy that would otherwise go to waste.