Government says it is doing everything possible to develop a diversified renewable energy sector that will play a pivotal role in the provision of alternative sources of power in the country.
Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development Charles Zulu said the lack of diversified electricity generation mechanisms has exposed the country to power shortages during the period of insufficient rainfall.
Mr. Zulu said government has seen it fit to collaborate with stakeholders to develop initiatives that will diversify the country’s electricity generation through investment in the energy sector and expand the electricity supply industry in order to reduce over dependence on hydroelectricity.
The Minister disclosed that government has also embarked on the preparation of the Renewable Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) policy to develop mechanisms to operationalize the policy on renewable energy.
Mr. Zulu also expressed gratitude to the to the United States government for the financial and technical support rendered to ERB in the development of the REFIT mechanisms.
The Minister said this during the Zambia Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) workshop held in Lusaka today.
And speaking earlier at the same event, United States Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz said Zambia has the capacity to produce enough energy due to the existence of abundant water resources.
Mr. Schultz said there is need for the private sector to collaborate with government to wisely utilize the resources to benefit Zambians and the region.
The US Ambassador said this in a speech read on his behalf by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Zambia Deputy Missions Director Patrick Diskin.
The adoption of an effective REFIT policy and finalization of the REFIT regulations will enable the Zambian Government to buy renewable energy from small-scale independent power producers at predominant prices to meet the high energy demand by the public.
“Charles Zulu said the lack of diversified electricity generation mechanisms has exposed the country to power shortages during the period of insufficient rainfall”
“Eric Schultz said Zambia has the capacity to produce enough energy due to the existence of abundant water resources”
BOTH CANNOT BE RIGHT! So which one is the IDlOT????
Sata, Lungu and the rest of the PF have been caught sleeping on the job! And their response is to blame everything else except themselves for the disaster.
You Poor F00LS, when you are caught with your pants down the correct action is to PULL them up, not look for scapegoats to blame! Time to pull up your socks too!
This term of renewable energy resources is a very misleading term. Hydro power generation is renewable, just develop hydro power plants and forget this renewable nonsense. because if you dont, soon you will buy into *****ic concepts of solar energy and wind energy which have never developed any nation. dont fall into the trap of these western world countries.
Renewable Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) is the way to go. This is actually old hat in Countries where Energy demands have been turned into incentives for small-scale independent power producers. E.g. more and more people, particularly pensioners, here in UK have put Solar panels and are selling excess power into the National grid.
But it requires careful PLANNING, something that PF are not renown for. Therein lies the problem. As the old saying goes “The devil is in the detail”.
When its too late that’s when you start running about like headless chickens looking for assistance..we have been telling you all along…the European govts like UK and Germany are best placed to consult in this department.
Zambia is a country where everything “runs by itself” , everything is neglected to a breathtaking extent, nobody gives a damn about planning or stuff like that. Electricity is just tip of iceberg, healthcare is collapsed, crime is out of control, inflation, very low education standards etc, and all these disasters are chronic and feed into each other. And nobody cares. That’s why I left Zambia because of things like that, a nation of forever waiting and hoping for things to improve by themselves, pathetic. And the average poor Zambian accepts everything, has very low expectations of himself and his country and people, a nation of low expectations will always wallow in poverty in the midst of plenty.