GOVERNMENT has clarified that the current extended load-shedding being experienced in some parts of the country, from the normal eight-hour schedule, is triggered by a technical fault from the power interconnector in Zimbabwe.
Energy Minister Dora Siliya told Parliament yesterday that there has been a fault with the interconnection of power in Zimbabwe which Zambia uses to import emergency power from either South Africa or Mozambique.
Ms Siliya said Zimbabwe had issued a notice to Government over the problem emanating from their interconnector which, however, was expected to end by tomorrow.
“Normal load-shedding is supposed to be eight hours according the schedule, but in the recent past days some parts of the country have experienced extended hours of load-shedding because we have a problem with the interconnection of power in Zimbabwe.
“We have a problem with the interconnector of power from Zimbabwe which we use in terms of importing our power, whether it’s from Mozambique or South Africa because it comes through the Zimbabwean interconnector,” she said.
She, however, said the fault from the interconnector was being worked on and that Zambia was expected to have the normal eight-hour load-shedding by tomorrow.
She was responding to supplementary questions after United Party for National Development (UPND) Nangoma Member of Parliament Boyd Hamusonde, during questions for oral answers, who asked on among other matters, whether Government had continued to import emergency power from Aggreko, despite the normal rainfall recorded in most parts of the country.
The Kafue Gorge Power Station, which normally generates a capacity of 990 Megawatts (MW) of power was currently generating below 600MW, while the Kariba power station, which produced about 1,080MW, was generating lower than 300MW due to continued lower water levels.
“So even as we import emergency power, we are still not being able to produce all the power needed that’s why we have continued with load shedding,” Ms Siliya said.
Energy deputy Minister Charles Zulu said Government has continued to import emergency power, which had been stable at 40MW daily from 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours adding that the contract for Aggreko would expire in December this year.
He said the imports were necessary due to continued low water levels the country was still experiencing at the main reservoirs of power generation carried over from last year’s hydrological season.
The House heard that the country was currently importing an average of about 300MW power per month.
He said, during a recent monthly consultative meeting between the Zambian National Farmers Union and Zesco, the farmers ‘body was happy with the current loadshedding of eight-hour which gave farmers comfortability to irrigate at night when tariff are low.
The House also adopted the report of the committee of the Auditor General on the management of occupational Safety and Health presented by committee chairperson Garry Nkombo, who among other matters, urged Government to set up an authority that would be responsible for administration, reporting, enforcement and monitoring matters pertaining to occupational safety and health.
In winding up debates of the report, Vice-President Inonge Wina assured the House that the Government was addressing the matters issued by the committee.
The Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Expression of Folklore Bill, and the Supreme Court of Zambia Bill, both passed the Seconding reading stage.
Bull……Has Dora been cleared over the KKIA radar scandal?
Dora can never stand down..intergity once lost…I saw the Zambezi river from the air flying over from Zimbabwe; its quiet dry 🙁 We need to invest in solar farms, with three mega ones, we would light Zed…
Guys!!!, loadsheding is not normal, whether its 1 or 2 hrs, it isnot supposed to be there. How do you even say from the normal eight hours? this country is sick.
And what happened to the issue of ‘when the water levels go up, it will stop’. Just moving from one excuss to the other. Next it will be the weeds have chocked one of the turbines at the Kafue gorge lower so technicians are working on the problem. when we get to september and october, we will go back to the water levels have gone down.
@Gundown…you have a great point but in a country where leadership embraces mediocrity the abnormal become the normal. Edgar should be sincere to himself and admit that he has failed. he has no clue and ors not understand economics
These monkeys ALWAYS FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO BLAME!!!
Vote Zambia FORWARD!! Vote WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE UPND!!
#chagwamustfall#!! #PamaFIkuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
@Prince, which part of the Zambezi did you see which is dry? Kalene hills? Dont cheat people. How can a dry Zambezi force a pontoon (twice ka) off its course? Choose which people to lie to
There you go Zedian Voter, the ball is still in your court..Vote PF again, you live and extend subhuman conditions that have been extertended from the time the drunken ECL got voted in with legs and hands in Kabwe. Most of you were fooled, get fooled again? ..you have not suffered enough. Good luck on 11 August!
There you go Zedian Voters, the ball is still in your court..Vote PF again, you live and extend subhuman conditions that have been extertended from the time the drunken ECL got voted in with legs and hands in Kabwe. Most of you were fooled, get fooled again? ..you have not suffered enough. Good luck on 11 August!…The major problem is that most Zambian voters are far too dull to see beyond there nostrils. ECL the Kachasu Man in statehouse sometimes sits and laughs at how Zambians are so stupid. He couldnt belive he can be voted in. Anyway, there he is, and only in Zambia do such useless voting happens
There you go Zedian Voters, the ball is still in your court..Vote PF again, you live and extend subhuman conditions that have been extertended from the time the drunken ECL got voted in with legs and hands in Kabwe. Most of you were fooled, get fooled again? ..you have not suffered enough. Good luck on 11 August!…The major problem is that most Zambian voters are far too dull to see beyond there nostrils. ECL the Kachasu Man in statehouse sometimes sits and laughs at how Zambians are so stupid. He couldnt belive he can be voted in. Anyway, there he is, and only in Zambia do such useless voting happens.
Uko!
Dora Siliya said that “Normal load-shedding is supposed to be eight hours according the schedule, but in the recent past days some parts of the country have experienced extended hours of load-shedding because we have a problem with the interconnector of power in Zimbabwe.
Dora added that “We have a problem with the interconnector of power from Zimbabwe which we use in terms of importing our power, whether it’s from Mozambique or South Africa because it comes through the Zimbabwean interconnector.”
Vote PF if you love & enjoy load shedding mixed with the economic crisis. The only way out is voting for UPND & HH with VISION & not “I have no vision”~Lungu~2014 to 2016.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
It is a blessing from above to have this kind of a govt. August elections in your hands. God bless Zambia
Be patient and a Kings Ransom will be yours! See how others are fairing, in oil rich Venezuela because of draught. Be a patriot and serve your country and be loyal Lest you let the Enemy in.
dailysignal(dot)com/2016/03/23/the-bizarre-reality-of-Venezuela-energy-crisis
God Bless Zambia. Bring the changes in Lord, your people suffer.
And also see how Botswana, a desert country is faring. They are doing very well thank you.
The objectionable culture of mediocrity! Of all countries, why compare Zambia to Venezuela? Are we destined to live at the bottom of the sewage pile? Zambia has so much potential but the few educated are so unambitious that they hoard and boast about the few chattels they have. We deserve better, instead of explanations and comparisons.
@Spaka BUT VENEZUELA ISN’t. because obviously they have alternative infrastructure in place. We are in the process. And please don’t say we can have done alternative energy at same time as Roads whilst over borrowing! One step at a time. We will be proficient in other energy types than hydro as we have plans on the ground for power stations etc.
@Buck Teeth
Venezuela because DROUGHT happens to all countries. It’s the drought that we use as comparator here. You are the most mediocre people in Zambia. Always moaning and groaning of how much better you will make Zambia when you can’t even grasp simple world facts. FACT, weather patterns because of world Climate changes will cause more droughts and it is accepted some parts of the world will become desert. Why do you think the Climate change talks and signing agreements are about? HOW ILLOGICAL AND ILL INFORMED ARE YOU?! Every kid in a West is up on Climate changes and changes in environmental behaviour…….now read our Zambian Opposition….LORD help us!
Ati the normal loadshedding of 8 hrs. Under Dora and PF loadshedding is now considered normal.
Ba Dora, so are you going to join UPND after they take over government? you are just another Silvia Masebo, jumping from party to party. Money mongers! Gold diggers! women without dignity! liars! I could go on and on
Failures always find somebody or something to blame.
Ba Mulenga Sata promised that he will inform his father(MHSRIP) that Abena Frank Bwalya naba Dora Siliti ebale KONTOLOLA ifintu mu PF. The people that were against you daddy during the day and night. They were even calling you names that you are”Chumbu Mushololwa” and that you are a mad man that will never be a President. What has now changed for Bena Frank to Start controlling the traffic in PF?
8 hour normal blackouts after the rains? Expect 18 hour blackouts after August – if PF wins. And then there will be a 400% electricity tariff increase that Lungu has promised, after flip-flopping about it in January this year. Zambians are in trouble and should liberate themselves from economic slavery and backwardness under PF.
#ChagwaMustFall
You and your cohorts are just trouble makers really! You only seek to misinform and manipulate facts!
You are the most mediocre people in Zambia. Always moaning and groaning of how much better you will make Zambia when you can’t even grasp simple world facts. FACT, weather patterns because of world Climate changes will cause more droughts and it is accepted some parts of the world will become desert. Why do you think the Climate change talks and signing agreements are about? HOW ILLOGICAL AND ILL INFORMED ARE YOU?! Every kid in a West is up on Climate changes and changes in environmental behaviour…….now read our Zambian Opposition….LORD help us! It was correct to time the tariff to a later period to alleviate poverty in a time of economical instability. Liberate ourselves from Common Garden Thugs!
BIG HINT. investing in Water, Alternative Energy is the NEXT BIG THING in the investment world. NOT Zulu..whatever MCS was rumbling on about! Even investing cattle in the future is a no no no for Envirobmental reasons (all that cow methane!). Meat eaters should change their duet to predominately Vegetables. Get into world discussions instead of Bpunker mentality UPND CADRES!
Sorry to rant! But @Buck Teeth, why do you think all those ‘subversive’ Water a Charities have been doing all these years? Giving water charity! In part it’s to study where all your Water Tables are! In future Water will become an Export product as Energy clearly has. In a Turkey their was big talk about building big water viaducts to export water to other countries not too many years ago, and the sharp local tasked their gov’ts. Now listen to Bucky Tooth here, if you are a Youth, Lord help us in the future. You only know to fight to control but are completely clueless…!
When are these PF clowns going to tell us the TRUTH!
Or do they think Zambians are so styupid that they will keep on believing these lies?
This load-shedding is not just because of low rainfall. It was caused by incompetence. In 2011 ONE YEARS SUPPLY OF WATER WAS LET OUT OF KARIBA DAM! That is the FACT of the matter.
In a few years PF has managed to destroy Zambias economy. They have been more interested in plunder and corruption than running the country. They must not only be kicked out of Government, but be JAILED for their crimes.
But the water was let out to repair Kariba….no?
8 hours of normal loadshedng do u realy call loadshedng normal? I think people runing this country lacks skills to run the country wht a shame!
If you think water levels are dropping please check the zambezi river authority web site on water levels statistics though not very accurate because the percentage is always at 48 for last year ever since they started giving updates.This is what journalists are surposed to be following up because it is a matter of national intrest.
BA Dora, what has happened to the US800 million u paid “FO a turkish ship to dock in Mozambique to generator electricity”? The story has died down. US800 million was paid & u r telling us 8 hr loadshedding is normal.
The reality is that the regional SADC average cost of power is 11cents/kwh. With the tarriffs having reverted back to the old structure we are back at around 4,5c/kwh.
Its tough to point out the truth, but without a fair priced tarriff structure, Zesco maintenance and upgrading will not happen. Also there is no incentive for the private sector to invest in a subsidised industry whose sole basis is to keep the voting populace happy at any economic cost.
Whether we like it or not, reality must prevail someday and its a bitter pill to swallow. Cost increases will be passed on to the poor in these tough economic times. Too Bad
Normal 8 hour loading shedding.Mediocrity has become normal.
Comment:loadshading is becoming worse and worse each and everyday where are we going?