Energy Minister Dora Siliya says there is need for Zambian households to start thinking of migrating from charcoal to using coal as a domestic source of energy. Ms Siliya is particularly concerned that the country may start receiving reduced amount of rainfall should citizens continue to cut down trees for making charcoal.
The Minister was speaking shortly after inspecting the thermo power plant being built by Maamba Collieries Limited in Sinazongwe District. Ms Siliya is of the view that if the country substitutes charcoal for coal, the distribution of the commodity would create more jobs.
She is also concerned that coal is being stock piled instead of using it as a domestic source of energy. Zambian households mostly use electricity and charcoal to cook their meals.
Meanwhile, Ms Siliya says government is happy with the compensation given to families that were displayed to pave way for the construction of the thermo power plant in Sinazongwe District.
Ms Siliya is pleased that Maamba Collieries Limited, which is building the thermo power plant has compensated families through building houses and giving them cash. She explained that Government does not want to stop development but at the same time does not want displaced families to be left in the cold.
The Minister was speaking when she visited the newly built residential complex for displaced families. Ms Siliya recalled that the country has a history with the construction of Kariba dam where displaced families were not taken care of.
The Minister stressed that Government does not want the Kariba dam incident to re occur. Sixty-two families have been resettled after they were displaced by the coal mine.
I could be wrong and I stand to be corrected. Isn’t coal dangerous for domestic use because of its flash explosive nature , high carbon monoxide production and plain old dirty? Isn’t there even legislation in place to prevent its domestic use? I thought our ancestors figured this one out already and hence their move towards charcoal and leaving coal for industrial use where it can be properly controlled. though it still remains the dirtiest source of fuel even there.
If I’m right on this one , then the Minister has just hit her Alex Muliokela moment right there.Suffice to say great minds think alike.
BA WISHI COAL IS THE BEST SOURCE OF ENERGY ESPECIALLY HEATING FOR WARMTH, COOKING AND WATER-HEATING. COAL IS EXTENSIVELY USED IN BOTSWANA, SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA AND WHERE I LIVE AND EUROPE DOMESTICALLY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH USING IT IN ZAMBIA. WHAT IS WRONG IN ZAMBIA IS USING ASBESTOS FOR ROOFING- IT’S POISONOUS. IT IS SCIENTIFICALLY, MORALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY WRONG FOR THE GRZ JUST LET CITIZENS TO INDISCRIMINATELY JUST CUT AWAY/DOWN TREES. THE GOVERNMENTS OF ZAMBIA HAVE BEEN VERY IMMORAL TO JUST GIVE A BLIND EYE. WHY SHOULD COAL BE A DOMESTICATED CHEAPER SOURCE OF ENERGY IN BOTSWANA THAT JUST IMPORTS COAL FROM ZAMBIA? COAL AS A SOURCE OF FIRE IS REUSABLE UN LIKE CHARCOAL. I CRY WHEN I TRAVEL TO ZAMBIA TO SEE NO FORESTS WHERE THERE USED TO BE FORESTS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NDWIII.
ON ALMOST EVERY ARTICLE TOUCHING ON THE WASTING AWAY OF OUR FORESTS, SOURCE OF ENERGY IN HOUSEHOLDS, AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES, I HAVE ALWAYS DIRECTLY/INDIRECTLY STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT THE ZAMBIA GOVT MUST ENACT LAWS TO STOP THE INDISCRIMINATE FELLING OF TREES IN OUR FORESTS BY INTRODUCING REPACKING COAL IN HOUSEHOLDS. EVEN SOME OR ALL TECHNOCRATS HAVE BEEN READING MY BLOG CONTRIBUTIONS ON THIS THEY HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT UP AT ALL. HOW CAN A RESPONSIBLE NATION LET THE DEPLETION OF FORESTS REACH THE LEVEL IT HAS IN ZAMBIA ALL IN THE NAME OF CHARCOAL WHEN ZAMBIA HAS A BETTER ALTERNATIVE IN COAL? AMASUKU, INFUNGO, INSOKOLOBE, IMPUNDU, INFINSA, INSONGWA, ETC- ALL THESE WILD FRUITS WHICH ARE INDIGENOUS TO ZAMBIA AND CAN BE RESEARCHED TO TURN THEM INTO PLANTATIONS FOR EXPORT AND HOME FOOD…
AMASUKU, INFUNGO, INSOKOLOBE, IMPUNDU, INFINSA, INSONGWA, ETC- ALL THESE WILD FRUITS WHICH ARE INDIGENOUS TO ZAMBIA AND CAN BE RESEARCHED TO TURN THEM INTO PLANTATIONS FOR EXPORT AND HOME FOOD PROCESSING ARE THREATENED. PAUL BUPE WHERE ARE YOU. ZAMBIA!!!!
This is the second time this year that I am putting my hands together for Bootlicker. Man, are you so right!
We can talk about braii-ing and stuff, that’s done in open air. Indoor, coal burning is going to geometrically raise the number of cancer cases. China has all the data you need. With poor health care system and a care-free attitude in our people, we’re going to have one sick nation.
For those of you who don’t know, the toxic election produced by burning coal is sulfur dioxide. It has multiple severe health consequences.
Asbestos has done it’s part and continues to kill our people. Education may be the key. Laws don’t seem to work where there is insufficient enforcement muscle.
Peter i do not know why people have disliked your comment it is a very good point. I have clicked like
@ Peter
As suspected, you are an uneducated 1MBECILE.
Inform yourself before showing your 1MBECILITY.
Have you checked which type of stove can use coal?
Which type of coal is used in eastern Europe?
Of course not.
PF Minister makes 5tupid statement and have guess who is the first to endorse 5tupidity? Peter the official PF 1MBECILE !!!
@ house fly
Because you and Peter are alike, uneducated 5tupid 1mbeciles.
Check on the web about use of coal and the side effect on climate, global warming and most importantly ON HUMAN HEALTH
Going backwards instead of forward!
This is typical of the DUNDERHEADS that are in this PF Government!
Does this “Energy Minister” even know about Global Warming and Climate Change that have all been caused by the use of coal?
Zambia was one of the the most successful Nations with green energy until PF came and started cancelling hydropower contracts.
This stu.pid woman now wants to take us BACKWARDS! Just do your job and harness Zambias abundant hydro power. Coal will take us back to the pre-industrial age and kill millions of people dumbass!
Burning coal pollutes our environment with toxins and produces global warming carbon emissions. Coal is a dirty energy source.
Why think about stinking coal, when cheaper, cleaner alternatives are available?
Dora Siliya, Madam Minister, please take a trip across the Zambezi and learn how Botswana is managing its energy sector. I would rather you advocate for use of gas for domestic usage (I have been using gas for cooking ever since I landed in Botswana). Also advocate for use of solar geysers, these are common in Botswana. Live and learn… not just learning new fashions and putting on expensive clothes and perfumes.
Actually coal or coal dust can and is (in RSA at least) processed into safe to use pellets and brickets for domestic use. I am sure I have seen these nicely packaged products in Game sold right here in Zambia. In RSA these are commonly found in grocery shops.
@Peter. Actually Botswana has a productive coal mine with one of the largest deposits in Southern Africa. In fact even a USD 2 billion coal fired electricity generating thermal plant.
@Chester. If you do braii like i used to you must have surely seen coal briquettes in grocery shops in bontleng and many other funnily named compounds in Bots
Jtwisy – In fact the National Council for Scientific Research already has a coal briquette dossier that has been gathering dust for decades.
What will this coal cost on at Kafwimbi village in Isoka? Let’s be realistic.
I doubt the environmentalists would support this talk… how many countries are promoting the use of coal for energy in homes! Coal is not renewable and it is not clean – coming from the energy minister the statement is disappointing!
@jtwisy…people in Batswana do not used briquettes for cooking their pap, morogo and meat, they use gas. On a lighter note, girls will even ask you for money for gas and not for briquettes. Public places like Botleng and others in Mogoditsane and Jinga use Mopani tree for braiing meat at bars. Most households use gas. I use a gas braii stand,the one you klick, klick to create a spark and you are ready to go.
Yes, briquettes are there in shops and way too expensive for the majority of common people, but gas is commonly used for domestic purposes at a large scale in Botswana. Hope you had a lovely time in Botleng… I rarely visit that place.