ZESCO plans to spend about US$5.3 billion for power generation, transmission and distribution to mitigate the existing power outages in the country.
Zesco director generation Victor Mundende said the company has embarked on a five-year business plan that will enable it to increase generation capacity through the expansion of existing hydro power stations and the development of new generation projects.
In an interview at the on-going Agricultural and Commercial Show, Mr Mundende said the US$5.3 billion will be spent between this year and 2017.
He said the power utility has made progress in addressing the power deficit with various power expansion projects being on course.
He cited the Kariba North Bank power project to be completed in 2014, with an increased installed capacity of 1,080 megawatts (MW) from 720 MW.
Other projects include Itezhi- tezhi with the capacity of 120 MW and the Kafue Gorge Lower hydro power station with 750 MW.
“Apart from the major power stations, there are some small hydro power stations that we are upgrading across the country. These include Musonda Falls which is five MW to about 10 MW while Lunzua in Northern Province with less than a MW will be expanded to about 15 MW,” he said.
He said the Chishimba Falls hydro power station that currently has an installed capacity of six MW will be upgraded to 15 MW and Lusiwashi hydro power station in Serenje will be expanded to about 100 MW.
Mr Mundende observed that the private sector has also come on board to alleviate the power shortage with Maamba Collieries planning to set up a thermo plant that will generate 300 MW in the first phase and another 300 MW in the second phase.
Just how will ZESCO manage to raise the 5.3bn$ with all ifimbwi no program (CNP) around? This company must be disbuddled into two at least. It is very inefficient and poorly managed. I am made to understand all the management with company DNA was fired as per song of ifi mbwi.
Breakdown ZESCO into two companies to promote capacity-building and efficiency. One company, solely for generation of power and the other transmission & distribution…
Otherwise we are doomed and sentenced to indefinite load shedding
#1 YOUR ARGUMENT ALMOST BECAME SENSIBLE BUT YOU WENT OUT OF CONTEXT AND SPOILED EVERYTHING. SO, I TURNED TO #2 WHO HAD A LOT OF SENSE IN HIS BLOGGING. YES! I AGREE WITH YOU #2. ZESCO CAN’T BE DOING EVERYTHING, (power generation, transmission, and distribution)- IT’S TOO MUCH FOR ONE COMPANY TO GENERATE, TRANSMIT AND DISTRIBUTE POWER. AND I WONDER WHY LUAPULA PROVINCE CANNOT BE THE POWER-HOUSE FOR OUR COUNTRY’S POWER GENERATION WITH ABUNDANT WATER RESOURCES FROM FROM LUAPULA, LUONGO AND MANY MORE SUCH BIG RIVERS. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF CONSTRUCTING ONLY ONE DAM ON ONE OF THESE RIVERS AND ELECTRICITY POWER PROBLEM IS SOLVED IN THE COUNTRY. WHY CAN’T WE ZAMBIANS THINK.
I agree with Peter, Even Kalungwishi presents immense potential for Hydro Power generation
Problem is we have become a begging nation. Its so sad that we always think that only a foreign invester can make a difference. Our Govt is always begging for help. This should end. Begging will always put us at a disadvantange. Remember the developed nations didn’t wake up one morning and voila they had everything. They did it themselves.
Yawn! Clueless armchair critics. Just log off
Victor Mundende must now go to jail for 10 years for quoting ZESCO’s investment plans in Dollars and not Kwacha!
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