Friday, March 29, 2024

President Lungu hands over Site for Construction of 750MW Hydro Power Station

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President Edgar Lungu receiving flower from a Chikonkomene Grade 4 pupil Lameck Goma.
President Edgar Lungu receiving flower from a Chikonkomene Grade 4 pupil Lameck Goma.

President Edgar Lungu has said that government is aware of the impact that the current load shedding has had on the economy and that is why he is personally leading a robust response to ensure this situation is normalized.

Speaking during the handover of the Kafue Gorge Lower Project site to the contractor Sinohydro Corporation of China at Kafue Gorge today, President Lungu said that he will next month be commissioning the 100MW power station at Itezhi Tezhi.

President Lungu said that the Kafue Gorge Lower project is estimated to cost two billion United States dollars inclusive of financing costs.

Below is the full Speech he Delivered at the handover site

 

  • Your Excellency the Chinese Ambassador,
  • The Minister of Energy and Water Development, Honourable Dora Siliya,MP
  • Cabinet Ministers present
  • Deputy Ministers Honourable Members of Parliament
  • Permanent Secretaries Present
    Government officials present
  • Your Royal Highnesses
    Delegation from Sinohydro Corporation
  • Acting Managing Director-ZESCO Limited
  • Invited guests
  • Members of the Media
  • Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to officiate at this important occasion which marks the official handover of the 750mw Kafue gorge lower hydropower project site to the sinohydro corporation limited of the peoples republic of china.

This special occasion marks a very important milestone in the history of our country as it is designed to add great value in increasing the generation capacity of power supply to our national grid considering the current challenges being faced as a result of the power deficit.

Ladies and Gentlemen

This project, with a capacity of 750mw, is being implemented by the government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the ministry of energy and water development and ZESCO limited under a special purpose vehicle called Kafue Gorge Lower Power Development Corporation Limited.

This long awaited project will go a long way in mitigating the enormous power deficit the country is currently experiencing. The power station will be the third (3rd) largest in Zambia after the Kariba north bank and Kafue gorge power stations which have installed capacities of 1,080mw and 990mw respectively.

The scope of the project includes construction of:

  • 140m High Dam
  • Water tunnels
  • Surface Power House
  • Switchyard
  • Workers’ township
  • Primary and Secondary School, and
  • Many other community social amenities
  • Ladies and Gentlemen,

The project is estimated to cost two billion united states dollars ($2,000,000,000) inclusive of financing costs. I am happy to mention that my government managed to provide an initial one hundred and eighty six million ($186,000,000) united states dollars to ZESCO as part of the initial equity and investment contribution to kick- start the project.

This contribution was allocated from the 750 million Eurobond, which the government obtained to finance infrastructure development. Those doubt our resolve to address the power shortage must know that this is a very serious matter to us. It is not about politics and point scoring, it is about one ensuring that energy security is assured because this is extremely important for socio-economic development.

Let me use this opportunity to emphasise the point that when we turn to bilateral partners and to open markets to borrow, we do so judiciously, we do so to borrow for essential investment like this one. The nation must be reminded that even the existing power infrastructure at Kariba and Kafue power stations was financed through external borrowing.

I must make this point to ensure that those who oppose development for the sake of seeking cheap political gain must know that we have truthful alternative explanation to give them. Those opposing essential borrowing like simply want to keep people in dark, to ensure the current load-shedding continues to afflict our people and out of that suffering they see a possibility of making political gain.

This is a viable project with assured market for its product and therefore recouping the investment we are making is assured. This project also assures us of sustainable energy security as a nation because it will add a significant amount of power to the grid. This is just, but one of the fast-tracked interventions I have directed to ensure that we get out of the current power shortages as soon as possible.

I will next month be commissioning the 100mw power station at Ithezi Tezi.

My government is expected to provide 15% of the project cost equity funding while the contractor shall assist in arranging 85% of the total project cost as debt financing from the china exim bank and industrial and commercial bank of china (icbc).

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This project will create about 5,000 jobs at the peak of construction. This project will create business opportunities for suppliers of goods and services to benefit the local communities and the country at large.

This is why I wish to urge all Zambians to be patient in the wake of current power deficits as my government is working hard to ensure reliable and quality power supply is guaranteed soonest.

My government is aware of the impact that the load shedding has had on the economy and that is why I am personally leading a robust response to ensure this situation is normalised. It is our responsibility to ensure that the wheels of the economy continue to turn and one major input into running of our economy is reliable power supply.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The project land for the upcoming power station is located in three chiefdoms namely Naluama, Nkhomeshya and Sikoongo. I wish to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to Her Royal Highness Chieftainess Nkhomeshya Mukamambo II and his royal highness chief naluama for consenting to the land application for the project.

My government is keen to ensure that the local people beneffit from this project. It is a matter of right that local people must have access to the electricity that will be generated from this power station. The days when local people only saw transmission lines passing over their heads and land transmitting electricity to areas far away are long gone.

To this effect, I direct the ministry of energy and water development and ZESCO to ensure that the areas surrounding this project site are electrified to so they benefit directly from the electricity that will be produced here.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

During the feasibility study of the project, 25 families were found to have settled in this project land whose livelihood activity was fishing. My government provided finances to compensate and resettle these families in places of their choice under the Resettlement and Compensation Action Plan (RAP). New houses and other social amenities were built for the affected people.

The rap facilities have since been handed over to the community in line with government policy of empowering its citizens with decent shelter.

I am informed that the procurement process for engagement of the contractor for this project was done through international competitive bidding process.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate sinohydro corporation of china for wining the tender to build this power station. This is Zambia’s first major power investment in 40 years! It is regrettable that valuable time was lost in unnecessary red tape and accusations and counter-accusations of wrongdoing leading the cancellation of the project several times. Had we acted decisively then we would not be facing the kind of shortage before us today. But as I said during my press conference last thursday, as head of state, I bear the responsibility to take decisive steps to address these problems.

As we move to diversify the country away from over-dependence on copper, I also wish to ask all citizens to help your government diversify the country away from over-dependence on Hydro power. I make this appeal because there is a lot individuals can do to help conserve power. As we introduce other alternative sources of power let us ensure that we address the demand side of this power equation.
Given the stark realities of our situation, I want to urge the contractor to expedite works and deliver the project on time.
On our part, I want to pledge total government support to ensure that the project is completed in a timely and cost effective manner.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is now my singular honour to officially handover the Kafue gorge lower Hydro power project site to Sinohydro corporation to commence the construction works.
May the almighty god bless you all

I Thank You

 

All Pictures by Jean Mandela

A Tonga warrior welcoming the president.
A Tonga warrior welcoming the president.
President Edgar Lungu greetings the chiefs on his right ZESCO Acting MD Victor Mundende and on his left Southern Provincial Minister Nathanael Mubukwanu.
President Edgar Lungu greetings the chiefs on his right ZESCO Acting MD Victor Mundende and on his left Southern Provincial Minister Nathanael Mubukwanu.
President Edgar Lungu shaking hands with ZESCO acting MD Victor Mundende while looking on is the Chairman of Sinohydro Corporation Limited Song Donsheng and Southern Provincial Minister Nathanael Mubukwanu.
President Edgar Lungu shaking hands with ZESCO acting MD Victor Mundende while looking on is the Chairman of Sinohydro Corporation Limited Song Donsheng and Southern Provincial Minister Nathanael Mubukwanu.
President Edgar Lungu greetings some ladies from Kafue Gorge Lower.
President Edgar Lungu greetings some ladies from Kafue Gorge Lower.
Welcome of PF Chirundu cadres.
Welcome of PF Chirundu cadres.
President Edgar Lungu after unveiling the plaque.
President Edgar Lungu after unveiling the plaque.
President Edgar Lungu after unveiling the plaque.
President Edgar Lungu after unveiling the plaque.
President Edgar Lungu after unveiling the plaque.
President Edgar Lungu after unveiling the plaque.
President Edgar Lungu testing the equipment to be used.
President Edgar Lungu testing the equipment to be used.
President Edgar Lungu testing the equipment to be used.
President Edgar Lungu testing the equipment to be used.
Sino Hydro workers
Sino Hydro workers
President Edgar Lungu conferring with Minister of Energy Dora Siliya
President Edgar Lungu conferring with Minister of Energy Dora Siliya

56 COMMENTS

  1. Let’s do this Mr President, let’s also ban ordinary bulbs, let’s do solar energy at a high level and on some islands wind energy can also work very well. Zambians support progressive actions.

    • Check your records and you will be shocked to learn that RB had a ground breaking ceremony for this project in 2011, and if my memory serves me right, the contractor is the same. PF under Sata rubished it and cancelled it. Where would this project have been by now if the irrational anti business attitude the PF came with had not been exhibited?

    • On 21st July 2011, Lusaka Times had this headline: RB commissions $2bn Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro …www.lusakatimes.com › Economy.

    • Dora seems to be talking about beer, whisky and that hideout,,,, and shi Tasila seems to to asking where that hideout Place is located, and he is shocked he doesnt know it!!

    • @Ndobo, kikikikikiki at pa hide-out, long time man. Have you been at the hide-out too?
      I only feel pit that there are no people wherever that president in past 2 months. Can imagine 6 cadres welcoming a president? And where is Mumbi Phiri, where is the National PF women league who is supposed to singing their lungs out?

    • Lungu is simply too too too too dull to carry the nation forward look at him in the presence of Dora Silya…this was the then minister of home affairs whom was busy accusing of corruption in 2011, today she is one of his ministers with a pending cause in court…it says it all about this bum we call President.

    • Lungu is now proudly telling us that Government has contributed 160 million dollars to a 2 BILLION project!

      When PF came into Government there was 3 BILLION SURPLUS in the Treasury. More than enough to pay for THE WHOLE PROJECT with ZERO FINANCE COSTS!

      Now having squandered that, and BORROWED another 8 BILLION KALOBA, he is trying to tell us he is doing a good job?

      With the economy cracking under load shedding THAT WAS FORESEEN LONG AGO? ????????

      Marubbish! ID!OT. Just go back to drinking your JAMESONI, it is the only thing you are good at!

    • Lungu is fraudulent ….in law we say with Malice aforethought :

      July 21, 2011 (Zambia Daily Mail)

      PRESIDENT Banda yesterday commissioned the construction of the US$2 billion Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-electric Power Station which will add 750 megawatts of power to the national grid once completed in 2017.

      The project, which will create about 300 direct jobs for indigenous Zambians, is being implemented under the public- private partnership made up of Zesco, Sino Hydro Corporation and the China Africa Development Fund.

  2. Pipe dream, long overdue. Should have spent entire Euro-bond on such projects. Now that you are financially delinquent then you start to dream big!!

  3. Busy “building castles in the air” here and their. He’s lucky the Zambian voters are easly cheated and are satisfied with less than enough.

  4. Mmembe and his cohorts including the tribalists will still not be impressed by this fantastic project.
    Lungu for 2016 whether they like it or not.

  5. Another important project ready to begin. Avoid strange comments and just acknowledge the good work.

    In short: seleni babombeko.

    • COPY AND PASTE- – –

      July 21, 2011 (Zambia Daily Mail)
      PRESIDENT Banda yesterday commissioned the construction of the US$2 billion Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-electric Power Station which will add 750 megawatts of power to the national grid once completed in 2017.

  6. Mmembe and his cohorts including the regionalists will still not be impressed by this fantastic project.
    Lungu for 2016 whether they like it or not.

    • The Chinese are happy to give us credit to build weather prone hydro-electric power stations while they and the Indians are building reliable coal-fired power stations. Why are we wasting money on hydro when Kariba has demonstrated that it is at the mercy of weather patterns. We have coal in Maamba and yet we seem unable to use it properly. Lungu is grinning because he knows Zambians are easily duped. In the meantime, India is building one coal fired station per week! I know coal is dirty but our power needs are more urgent.

  7. “The project is estimated to cost $2 billion inclusive of financing costs. I am happy to mention that my government managed to provide an initial $186m to ZESCO as part of the initial equity and investment contribution to kick- start the project.”

    The lazy bum is very happy to drop such figures in his speech one would think he simply picked up the money lying somewhere on the ground…

  8. That is what we should have been borrowing for…..good project in the order of Kariba Dam and Itezhi Tezhi.

    Curious…. Didn’t the late realign this and other power stations to Lusaka and Central Provinces?

    Madness…….!!!

  9. That is what we should have been borrowing for…..good project in the order of Kariba Dam and Itezhi Tezhi.

    Curious…. Didn’t the late realign this and other power stations to Lusaka and Central Provinces?

    Madness…….!!!

    • Respect is EARNED.

      What has this useless man done to deserve respect?

      Bankrupt Zambia? While he charters $300, 000 airplanes for joyriding with his friends?

      No respect from me for the lazy swine!

    • Don’t blame God for your mistake, you voted on your own and you deserve it all.
      Don’t be too religious, God will not impose incompetent, corrupt leaders on you.
      Simply put you made your own choice, simple as that.

  10. Mr presido, if your GRZ was serious about power diversification by now 80 % of the population would have been on solar for the daytime electricity consumption. But because you were not going to be getting any electricity revenues if the population switched to solar panels, solar was/is not encouraged.

  11. Things like loadshedding can be avoided by something called planning. Which of our past presidents can be said to have planned for us in this generation? I think the only one who comes close is Kaunda.

  12. $2 billion wasted on technology that demands on rainfall…imagine if you spent the selfsame on solar power systems which are practically weatherproof in subtropical Zambia.

  13. Zambian journalists never research. The feasibility study of this project was done in the UNIP days ages ago. You journalists are responsible for misleading the people of Zambia because of your ignorance.

    • You are so right. Kafue Lower was identified in early 1970s as the next site, ahead of Batoka Gorge. But it was MMD who got it funded only to be blocked by Sata who wanted kickbacks in 2011.

    • @July, you are very correct. This project was designed in 1971!

      Feasibility studies were COMPLETED in 1991.

      In 2011 it was IN PROGRESS when the clown SATA was elected and he CANCELLED IT! Probably because it is much easier to steal money from corrupt contracts on RDA projects than a big hydro scheme.

      So there is absolutely no doubt that the current load shedding is directly caused by PF incompetence and corruption.

      Our dull drunkard probably never even knew about it until load shedding happened!

      And now he wants to claim credit for it! What an arsehole!

    • They have already built one..300MW if I’m right ..Chinese connection again…though I’m for green sustainable energy but if you have the resources why not!!

  14. Why not partner with credible investors from countries like German, South Africa, Japan, USA, UK, Canada, France and invest in a nuclear power plant.
    We need to start thinking big, it’s about time to stop think in terms of “ukupimisha tupamela”

    • China is a credible investor my friend – you seem to lack understanding of world economics. Do you know how much investment China has made in UK and USA?

  15. Thats a good plan project that will benefit our children children to come.let us all suport the president for an exallent work plan.bravo lungu

    • What did this useless drunkard clown do to make this happen except read out a speech that was written out for him by somebody else?

      He probably didn’t even understand the speech he was reading because his hangover was hurting his dull brain!

    • Is that why SATA cancelled it as soon as he came to power in 2011?

      My dear friend Kalito, the beneficiaries of this project are the PF cronies that have stolen eight BILLION Dollars.

      Your children and their children will only have the job of repaying that money by working all their lives for poor wages to repay the KALOBA. They will probably be so poor they will NEVER see electricity in their houses!

  16. It is difficult to understand God. We try to do it on a human level. The bible says our ways are not his ways. So when God put somebody into leadership, it doesnt mean good. It doesnt mean that person will be a good leader, but God has a purpose. Lungu is a useless leader and God has a reason for that which will come to pass soon. Lungu will not be president next year unless satan returns him to the throne which will spell doom for Zambia. Lungu is a lesson to all those with evil minds. God will defeat them at the ballot box next year. Watch the space.

    • Zero boyz, you will soon have no money in the pocket and no food in the stomach.

      Let us see if you will be singing the same song then!

  17. LASHBACK: RB COMMISSIONS $2BILLION KAFUE GORGE LOWER HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER STATION
    This is the same project Lungu was launching yesterday???????
    July 21, 2011 (Zambia Daily Mail)
    PRESIDENT Banda yesterday commissioned the construction of the US$2 billion Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-electric Power Station which will add 750 megawatts of power to the national grid once completed in 2017.
    The project, which will create about 300 direct jobs for indigenous Zambians, is being implemented under the public- private partnership made up of Zesco, Sino Hydro Corporation and the China Africa Development Fund.
    Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony in Namalundu Gorge in Kafue, Mr Banda said the power station is one of the most important components of Government’s strategy to meet the growing energy…

    • LT headline should have read –

      PF finally realises after FOUR years that it was a HUGE MISTAKE to cancel this contract in 2011. Apologizes to the Nation for causing LOAD SHEDDING and economic collapse!

  18. 2017 is the completion date? Not likely but that would be exciting – finally have enough power to “power the nation” and hopefully enough to power some other nations as well. am nervous about the debt this will cause but not sure there is a real alternative.

    • 2017 WAS the completion date if it had started as scheduled. It takes SIX years to build.

      The REVISED COMPLETION DATE after being cancelled and then restarted by PF will be 2021!

  19. I thought this man Lungu leant a lesson on dipleting water level in kariba dam due to these chinese cheap contracts where turbines being used require high volume of water,wait for its completion u’ll tell me hw it shall be shut down due to low water levels,why celebrating u pf cadres when kambwili yo pf chief cadre confessed that a hydro power stations doesnt get completed within four years, but takes 4-5 yrts to complete,meaning to offload power on the market by 2021

  20. When is President Lungu’s last day in office? The country can not wait for incompetence to disappear. Perhaps no Zambia president in the history of Zambia has been a clueless and self-confessed visionless leader as President Lungu.

  21. Gud Mr President Others Could Have Talked About It But No Political Action Was There Finally Akachenjela Ka Edger Kafwaya Nenchende,coin Kachita Na Handover For Construction. Ulya Palya Nichi Devil Upnd Chamubaba Alesabailafye Pa Lusaka Times. Bola Mpanshi Tatulaselula Ukuselula Ni Mu 2016 Elyo Imingalato Shikamba. Imwe Captain Alifi$wapo 2 Penalties,4 Clear Chances But Still Being Featured Waiting Yet For Another Big Loose A Masaka In A Tribal Election

  22. And by the time this project will be concluded we will have an even bigger deficit of power. Lets look at real solutions like solar power. What will happen when we have poor rainfall for the next 5 years. Zuba ni mbwe mu Zambia please napapata.

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