Reform of the energy sector, including a new Electricity Act, is a current focus for the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and stakeholders. The aim of a recent EEG Zambia scoping study was to identify potential research questions of use to decision makers and practitioners in the energy sector, and to explore the extent of research capability in the country. This paper provides an overview of the energy sector in Zambia, including the main challenges it faces, and the research themes that emerged during the scoping study.