Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Zambia plans to go to nuclear to end loadshedding

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Zambian Govt officials signing documents with Russia's Rosatom for development of nucear technology in Zambia
Zambian Govt officials signing documents with Russia’s Rosatom for development of nucear technology in Zambia

The Zambian Government has signed agreements with Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom to lay the groundwork to build nuclear power plants in Zambia which it hopes will bring to an end load shedding.

Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, is a state corporation in Russia, established in 2007 and is the regulatory body of the Russian nuclear complex.

The three Memorandum of Understanding and one project development agreement with Russia signifies the commencement of the process to develop capacity to implement nuclear science in Zambia.

The cooperation will among other things develop a strategy for nuclear plant within 10 to 15 years which will produce at least two Giga watts of electricity, product isotopes for diagnosis, cancer treatment and irradiation of food.

The agreement paves way for the Russian Federation to assist Zambia with the development of policies, programs, institutions and capacity strengthening to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purpose over a 10 to 15-year horizon.

Rosatom Deputy Director General Nikolay Spassky disclosed that in the MoUs signed, the Russian federation will assist Zambia construct a centre for nuclear science and technology that will consist of nuclear installations.

Mr. Spassky also called on Zambians to remove myths about nuclear energy saying projects of such magnitude need support from all citizens by creating public confidence.

And Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Godfrey Malama who signed one of the agreements said government expects communication agents to effectively convey messages that will positively impact on citizens for the successful development of the nuclear program.

The First Memorandum of Understanding signed between the ministry of Higher Education and Rosatom on cooperation in training and skills development in the fields of nuclear, will allow Russian Federation assist Zambia in developing an integrated country human resource plan for personnel for nuclear power plant.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Cabinet Rowland Msiska said the development turns into actuality the pronouncement by President Edgar Lungu during the opening of Parliament that his administration will pursue nuclear technology as part of a diversified sustainable energy mix to power Zambia’s economy.

Dr. Msiska told journalists shortly after the signing ceremony that once the program is implemented, load shedding will be a thing of past.

101 COMMENTS

    • Clearly Chernobyl in Russia , Nikoshima Japan are not lessons enough for Zambian leaders who think with their arses and not their brains.

      There are numerous environmental friendly ways for generating energy and going NUCLEAR is NOT one of them.

    • Here we go again, being swindled in broad daylight. What happened with Dora Siliya’s imported ship of electricity from Saudi Arabia, and was to be docked in Mozambique. Even Lunch went to Mozambique to declare victory?
      Why Zambians rush for titles of “Dr”, when they can’t even install a single solar panel?

    • The Russians have the best nuclear technologies in the world, their capabilities for peaceful operations in medicine and energy supersedes all others. With the installation of the said reactors, Zambia will have the capacity to power the entire continent.

      This is a step in the right direction and a great move for the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise. We have the second largest reserves for uranium the world over and it is time we maximized our potential by turning this resource into the right vehicle to alleviate our power shortages not only at home for exports to our neighbors.

      Kudo to the entire team that has been working on this for the last 7 years. Let’s roll … thanks a trillion

    • Mukafwa kwati ni ba mwankole bonse pa zed. Those greedy politicians you have will buy sub standard equipment and those dull kaponyas will want to steal uranium waste and sell on the black market!

    • Easy way out ka. Germany is closing every single nuclear power plant. If I had not heard of Chernobyl I probably say thumbs up. With the incompetence we are seeing at ZESCO can we surely manage nuclear power plants. Kaya…

    • Knowing the way we do deals in this country, Edward & his crooks are already getting kickbacks & we’ll end up as a dumping ground for radioactive materials while they collect our uranium.

    • And then they will dump the waste on your plot ..what are you going to say? We have the capacity to create cleaner renewable energy but these empty tins want to money on energy sources that these selfsame countries are cutting back on.

    • Put all the nuclear plants in the North East Zambia, South West Zambia bring all the wind and solar power technology, apo tizanvelana.

    • The suicide of Zambia. You are better off going back to koloboi. Who is going to maintain those power plants in Zambia?

    • Simple pylons half the nation in total darkness for 6 days, can you manage a disaster of chenobyl(Russian) or fukushima(Japan) nuclear disasters magnitude were a place has to be cleared of its people in a brink of an eye.

    • ya even renewable energy engineering at Undergraduate level not where the do it on post graduate level,coz they dont go into depth

    • LONG OVERDUE. NUCLEAR ENERGY IS THE WAY FORWARD FOR ZAMBIA. ZAMBIA HAS ABANDUNT URANIUM WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR. WE SHOULDN’T BE MINING URANIUM JUST EXPORT TO COUNTRIES WHICH USE IT TO PRODUCE ENERGY WHILE WE OURSELVES NEED ENERGY. MOREOVER, NUCLEAR ENERGY HAS LESS GREENHOUSE EMISSION AS COMPARED TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

    • @ B R Mumba, Sr & Peter

      Are you two 5tupid arse licking jerks gone mad?
      In to day Zambia you cannot put together knowledgeable Board of Directors for the company (ZESCO) using 19th Century technology and you 1mbeciles dreaming about nuclear technology?
      Who is going to operate such technology? Mr. Mumba Jack Ass Senior or Mr. Piter Arse Licking Junior?

      Wake up and start looking at feasible solutions.

    • @Matador my bro from Spain, we have the raw materials, not enough land for such a project, all land in the south west is used as pasture land for our animals and you surely know that a reactor needs huge amounts of water for cooling, we don’t have much water to go by, our man made Lake kariba is already overwhelmed by the hydro plant, this only leaves areas in the north with huge lakes and a lot of river bodies to take up that one, we shall surely export the raw materials to them, it is not a problem.

    • WHAT A VISION-LESS GOVERNMENT! WHERE IS LUNGU TO MANAGE THE AFFAIRS OF THIS COUNTRY? WHY CAN’T LUNGU RESIGN BECAUSE HE IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THERE AT STATE HOUSE? LUNGU AND PF MINIONS HAVE INDEED TAKEN US ZAMBIANS FOR GRANTED.

    • At first site this sounds like a good idea, but if you analyze it further you realize, we have more questions.
      1. If We cant handle ZESCO, we cant put Solar Energy Plant, How the hell are we going to manage a Nuclear Plant?
      2. European Countries e.g German or even the USA, are all closing without replacement any Nuclear Station they build before, and scrapping any plans to build new plants
      3. ASAD was instructed by the International community and the International Nuclear Agency, to dispose off its Nuclear plants, those products are being shipped to Russia to be recycled and disposed off. I hope Zambia does not become a dumping place
      4. Can the Zambian people be given more information, Nuclear Plant is a big thing, we cant live with just a statement that say, we want to eliminate…

    • 4. Can the Zambian people be given more information, Nuclear Plant is a big thing, we cant live with just a statement that say, we want to eliminate “Loadshedding”, that is to shallow. Maybe Zambia people should be asked throug a referendum

    • We don’t need nuclear power just 2solve power load-shedding. Zambia has no capacity 2maintain Nuclear power plants let alone 2contain nuclear reactor explosion. Costs of maintenance & containment of nuclear reactor explosion are2 enormous for Zambia.

      There is also aspect of human cost as direct deaths occur & physiological pregnancy anomalies caused by radioactive isotopes. Up2 2day Japanese & Russians (Ukrainians) suffer from radiation that cause congenital anomalies(mutations) from 1945 Atomic bombs & 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster respectively. Animals continue to die.

      Decontamination efforts of the surroundings in Russia ultimately involved 500,000 workers and cost 18 billion rubles i.e. more than whole Zambian workforce!

      Does Zambia have that kind of money & workforce…

    • Decontamination efforts of the surroundings in Russia ultimately involved 500,000 workers and cost 18 billion rubles i.e. more than whole Zambian workforce!

      Does Zambia have that kind of money & workforce ? Zambians stop being myopic!

    • And Lungu did not fly all the way to Moscow to sign this document himself?

      He must be ill! Can the doctors please give him an urgent check-up!

      Maybe he was just afraid of Russian Vodka extra strong.

    • I agree with this idea as long as they put the nuclear power stations in Luapula, Northern and Muchinga Provinces. Since there’s no farming in those areas, there is no problem if nuclear holocaust happens there. After Chernobyl, only PF would go to Russian mafia for nuclear. Russians are like Africans – great ideas but poor execution. For nuclear power, Zambia should be talking to the French or Chinese. The Chinese are expanding their nuclear power use, cheaply and reliably.

  1. Its a good move BUT BUT my only worry is the management of the highly radioactive nuclear waste from Uranium. This is one of the Key concerns even in the developed countries. Looking at the capacity of managing simple organic waste and mining waste generally in Zambia (individuals and companies respectively), shows how far Zambia is from handling highly dangerous metals. Kabwe mine is still among the top 10 world most toxic towns.

    • Mukafwa kwati ni ba mwankole bonse pa zed. Those greedy politicians you have will buy sub standard equipment and those dull kaponyas will want to steal uranium waste and sell on the black market!

    • RUSSIA IS ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRIES IN NUCLEAR ENERGY PRODUCTION AND AS SUCH THE BEST PARTNER FOR THE PURPOSE. BA CARLOS, YOU SHOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT THAT WHEN RUSSIA IS THE PARTNER. JUST WORRY ABOUT WHEN AND IF IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE IT IS JUST MoU WHICH HAS BEEN SIGNED AND NOT THE PROJECT ITSELF.

    • When your relatives start bearing children without limbs and half brains, thats when you will realise what a big mistake this is for our country. We are barely able to handle Zesco, Hydro power! What about nuclear energy? Unfortunately, we as a country are used to shortcuts and when things go wrong, no single citizen will speak up even if they have evidence. Let’s invest in solar farms for goodness’ sake.

  2. Nuclear power in Zambia is long overdue. With the adverse effects of climate change that has affected rain fall both in pattern and volume resulting in failure to fill our dams, nuclear power is the solution. We should not be discouraged over issues of safety as the technology has matured enough and the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters should not scare us because have provided lessons that will improve next generation nuclear power plants.

    • I support you. We just need to grow engineering capacity in our people. All technology is never completely safe. How many people are dying in road accidents per month in Zambia. Should we stop driving? Answer is no. Just improve enlighten and educate our people about the perils of technology misuse

  3. Africans are too lax and carefree to deal with stringent nuclear power safety requirements.Look at our filthy cities,our chronic corruption and endemic incompetence at running any agency.

  4. Yes we CAN consider this but we FIRST NEED TO AGREE on a PHASED APPROACH to ENDING LOAD SHEDDING!! This NUCLEAR SOLUTION SHOULD BE A LONG TERM STRATEGIC ACTION which will only bear fruit in say 20 – 25 Years! In the MEAN TIME, what is the IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO LOAD SHEDDING? WHAT is the MEDIUM TERM SOLUTION, next 2- 5 YEARS? By now we SHOULD HAVE BEEN MOBILISING FOR ANOTHER COAL FIRED POWER PLANT and development of HYDROPOWER PLANTS in the NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY TO ADD TO THE NATIONAL GRID! DREAMING BIG while failing to meet basic needs and failing to pick LOW HANGING FRUITS!

  5. Dont be negative always…majority of phD comments lack basic knowledge of nuclear energy production and world’s concerns with end products. In Life , there is always a ” start”. Time for Zambia to make a step into a new direction.You are more worried of deaths out of radiation , yet you dont realize that the massive alcohol intake, smoking ,and perhaps malaria that you have come to accept sweep human life on daily basis in Zed. ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????????? ????.

    • My friend, don’t expose your ignorance here. These concerns people are expressing are legitimate and in the best interest of the country. It’s not that we can’t take a step in a new direction, it’s because we do not have competent people who will follow safety regulations to a tee. Zambians only care about money and nichekeleko is the order of the day at the expense of the majority poor Zambians. And just a reminder, your point on smoking and drinking in comparison to the dangers of exposure to improperly handled nuclear energy is way off topic. Talk about a topic you know very well.

  6. Dont be negative always…majority of phD comments lack basic knowledge of nuclear energy production and world’s concerns with end products. In Life , there is always a ” start”. Time for Zambia to make a step into a new direction.You are more worried of deaths out of radiation , yet you dont realize that the massive alcohol intake, smoking ,and perhaps malaria that you have come to accept sweep human life on daily basis in Zed. ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????????? ????.

  7. 10 to 15 years from now, load-shedding will end. Can’t wait! Why do I have the feeling this is all a load of bull? We can’t even handle garbage at a market. Uranium? What happened to all the plans that should have ended load shedding by now? Wind, solar, upgrading the current hydro equipment, managing structural issues, channelling more watts from some ‘friendly[ countries etc. Is the government trying to buy time – an indication of failure to sort out the crisis? There IS an energy crisis and it can’t be allowed to go on or be camouflaged by some questionable ‘nuclear’ agreements.

    • @11 Harold ..I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU… see my comment @8 They start CHASING SHADOWS instead of FACING THE ISSUES HEAD ON!! South Africa first ended load shedding in the IMMEDIATE TERM and is now planning on additional nuclear capacity for longer term needs!!

  8. Zambia is not ready for nuclear technology,not in the next 50years,if we can’t clear garbage I don’t see us maintaining nuclear sites.

  9. Plezzzz you can’t even maintain and run a hydro power station and you think you can run a nuke power station ? Please keep such news on ZNBC for consumption of PF kaponyas.

    Joke of the century. They just went to earn allowances. What happened to the solar power plants promised when lungu was in Saudi Arabia ?

  10. Really? Are you kidding me? This President and his party are buffoons! How do you start talking about nuclear energy when there are much cheaper and less dangerous options available to you. Worst of all you go and engage a country who brought us Chernobyl! This is the country of polonium and toxic waste! Haven’t you been reading about the goings on in Japan, UK and USA regarding nuclear technology? What President goes head in into an agreement without wide consultation? You can’t even properly run Zesco, hospitals and make proper roads for God’s sake! This a very, very dangerous sign for our country. This is why a proper constitution should be developed and implemented. These fools will drown us!

  11. PF fools,how long does it take to just do a nuclear feasibility study=5years.How long does it take to install nuclear power plants and stations=15-20 years. How long does it take to test the installed nuclear systems=2 years.Now add all the years above for load shedding to be a thing of the past in Zambia.Thankyou

    • @Redbull

      Thankful for some intelligence on this subject!

      About TWENTY-FIVE YEARS is the time it takes to get a nuclear plant operational. Add another FIVE years for staff training.

      Batons Gorge dam can be built in FOUR YEARS if smart people are put in charge. And we already have trained hydropower engineers in Zambia.

      So what the he’ll are these clowns talking about?

      LOAD SHREDDING will be.long gone by the time any nuclear power is generated in Zambia.

  12. They have already “put” the solar plants which were supposed to end load shedding so now what has happened to them? And the billions of dollars that they cost, more to the point… Nuclear power is OK but you need serious people to run it, it’s not a minibus

  13. You have to ask why no other African country has nuclear and is exporting cheap power to the region… Why does Zambia export hydropower to South Africa? Does anyone in government stop drinking to do a few hours work at least in the morning

  14. Imwe this is madness. You fail to regulate industries that have run for decades like mining and its pollution and you think you can take a chance on nuclear? And Russian technology for that matter?

  15. I wonder whether these government officials know what they are talking about, ati loadshedding will end when nuclear power is built in Zambia? So we will never get enough rain again? So solar is just a song? Alll those pkans fir more hydropower are songs? Come civil servants, dont let us down wu)ith such basic ignorance!

  16. PF dreamers. Which other African country has done this apart from SA which of course is the economic power house of Africa. Clueless PFools cheating their naive carders.

  17. Eish Bagonga ba Zed this is the same company that was rejected in southafrica for the same nuclear programme i hear russian mafias are involved in the running of this company and coincidentally president Lunga is making a state visit in RSA am sure its the same company that has links to the GUPTAS in RSA rumour has it some one in the SA government has already eaten the money from the russians am sure they are now selling zambia the rejected deal in RSA

  18. While I admire the Russian works in the field, for the sake of safety, I could have preferred a Western company from the US in particular! You never gamble with nuclear energy! I wish we never went that far … Anyway, …!

  19. This is the best way out so far. Solar energy has it’s advantages and disadvantages. Before you start commenting on issues that you don’t fully understand please do a research. The making of solar panels possess a major health and environmental risks as well. Talking of Fukushima nuclear power plant, the plant was destroyed not because japan failed to take care and dispose of the waste but by a natural disaster, earthquake and tsunami.

    • What about Chernobil, Three Mile Island, Krsko……………….

      Stick to charcoal as it reflects education level of Zambia

  20. Remember that when the plant blows up it is disaster. Those who are going to live close by are going to be affected. Remember radiation is not good because it is not eco friendly. Radiation TEMUNOBE so to say.

  21. Well said B R Mumba, Sr , we cannot relly on hydro power only as water levels may drop with global warming. We need diverse power sources nuclear being one of them. as for accidents these can happen even with hydropower dams if not well maintained, thats why you need systems in place. Russians are world leaders in nuclear power and modern nuclear plants are way safer than chernobyl was. People please dont be scared of development.

    • Do you know the cost of nuclear energy? From where you will get the funding? What about staffing?
      STOP DREAMING. Star cleaning garbage from the streets instead of dreaming .

  22. you can even maintain roads they are talking of nuclear, lots of things to be done, small like more clean hospitals and school

  23. Govt Can’t maintain roads they are talking of nuclear, lots of things to be done, small things like clean hospitals and schools

  24. Absolute Madness.Zambia has great potential for Green energy-solar,small hydro and biomass/bio waste.These renewable resources are there for you but instead you want nuclear power.
    Zo-ona we are lost as a country.POOR, POOR,POOR leadership

  25. Not at all a good idea. Energy of the future not dangerous energy that developed countries are starting to get away from. I can understand using it as a launching pad for better energy research, but not as the energy source itself.

    Don’t do it. Unless you want to be the next Iran, being backed by Russia on this and being cut out from the rest of the world.

  26. Capwa mwaloba ba mambala! Unless you are selling off your country that technology is not for the inept and if you treat it half as you have treated the Kariba Dam your country will not exist for habitation! Germany is pushing back and trying to double up on alternative, safer sources albeit more intensive than nuclear. It is as if with succeeding administrations the country is getting progressively debilitated in its capacity to think up sustainable options. It is still a toss up to understand.

  27. Way to go.
    To the doubtors, why did god plant Uranium in this Country. Its for times like this. Zambia is one of the best places for nuclear reactor operation. There are no major tremors, no tsunami, no possibility of jet accidents or even possibility of sabotage.

    Nuclear reactors run out of control and melt if you have no enough coolant water or damages to the entire pumping system of the coolant.

    Just remember that the life the Kariba Dam is in question. We might have to bring down that dam very soon in a controlled manner to avoid a holocaust of events in Eastern province, Malawi, Zimbabwe and worse of Mozambique.

  28. While I agree that nuclear power is the best and quicker way to end electricity deficiencies I do not believe that Zambia is ready for such an undertaking. Even South Africans with all the technological advancements they have, they are still debating whether to go nuclear or not. Remember Chenobyl and Fukushima disasters. Can Zambians really handle nuclear wastes or a nuclear disaster. I think we are being over ambitious. One mistake will wipe out the entire country with radioactive materials which many Zambians do not even understand. Naambamotu yaya, mukanwa mukikopo.

  29. Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power is fundamentally sensible from an economic perspective
    14 Aug 2015 by editor Comments (3)
    Germany has made a formal commitment to phase out the use of nuclear power by 2022. Erik Gawel and Sebastian Strunz write on the implications of the strategy for Germany’s future energy mix and whether the approach adopted in the country could function as a model for other European states. They argue that while the target is undeniably challenging, long-term it is both economically sensible and feasible to phase out both fossil fuels and nuclear energy in favour of renewables.

  30. Swiss vote on phasing out nuclear power plants
    Environmentalists have long been arguing that plants are aging and unsafe.
    By BARBARA SURK 11/27/16, 9:41 AM CET Updated 11/27/16, 2:42 PM CET
    Swiss voters are voting today in a referendum that will decide whether or not to speed up the process of phasing out the country’s nuclear power plants.

    If they choose “yes” in the balloting it would force three of the country’s five reactors to close next year, and the remaining two by 2029.

  31. Handling a nuclear power plant requires not only a well trained workforce but one with a very good work ethic to avoid leakages and accidents. This is what lacks amongst us in Zambia. You will find incompetent relatives and cadres will be employed in these plants and wala!! Problems will start.

    • This thinking is the end result of too much Jamesoni consumption in State House.

      For sure, this idea came after dozens of bottles, and from someone with no clue what is involved but thinks he knows every thing when he is completely DRUNK!

  32. I have been inside the ISAR nuclear Power plant in Bavaria and have actually looked down inside a nuclear reactor. I was introduced to the elaborate safety mechanisms that go with nuclear material containment and also the active safety features. It is perfectly safe to operate a nuclear power plant in stable Environments. Both ISAR I and ISAR II (1485 Megawatts) in operation from March 1979. The bigger Gundremmingen nuclear power plant (2×1.344 Megawatts) on the Danube river have been in operation from 1967. These and others are just in one province, the richest in Germany, Bavaria.
    Don’t be cheated that the Germans can close down the plants. Its a blue political lie by the greens.
    I have seen tests where a jet is rammed into the wall similar to the containment vessel for the reactor…

  33. Have you ever wanted to ask a question about the UK government’s work in Zambia, but didn’t know how to?

    The British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, and the Head of the UK’s Aid work to Zambia, Bruce Lawson-McDowall, will be answering your questions live from 10:00 Zambia time (08:00 UK time) on Tuesday 13 December. So if you want to know what the UK’s doing to support Zambia’s economic recovery, our take on the recent general election, or how many Ferrero Rocher have been served at the High Commissioner’s Residence in the last year (the answer is zero), then get ready to post your questions.

    To ask a question you’ll need to like the High Commission’s Facebook page UK in Zambia. You can start posting your questions right…

  34. Best SOLUTION EVER. Bring the graduates trained in this field from all universities across the country to begin brainstorming and commence the works. And If there are no graduates in NUCLEAR POWER in Zambia, please get some from other countries .SOUTH AFRICA, CHINA,JAPAN,UNITED STATES,PAKISTAN,AND UAE, etc. About time we went nuclear….

    • You do not need Nuclear Engineers to operate a nuclear power plant like any other power plant. All you need is a Mechanical Engineer with up-scaled knowledge of thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and turbo machinery.
      A nuclear power plant uses uranium pellets as energy emitter just like coal does when burnt to heat up the water raising the steam at high pressure that rotates the gas turbines and in turn the alternators. It’s not rocket science. The nuclear fuel in pellet form logged in a fuel rods placed in a case inside the reactor surrounded with water. The most important job on this technology is cooling down the reactor chamber continuously. If the cooling system fails, it melt the containment vessel and release…. err! I don’t know where you will be. Safer than AIDS though.

  35. Instead of developing Hydro in the DULL PF’s MMD-run Govt is going to dangerous Nuclear. They’ve never heard of the Chernobyl Disaster or recently the Fukushima Disaster.

    Over 500,000 jobs can be created if these hydro projects are executed. Nuclear will be constructed & operated by Russians who will take the tariffs back to their country. It’s so painful to helplessly watch while our country is being auctioned:-

    -MPATA GORGE – 540 MW
    – DEVIL’S GORGE – 500 MW
    – BATOKA GORGE – 800 MW
    – MUMBOTUTA FALLS – 300 MW
    – MAMBILIMA FALLS SITE I – 202 MW
    -MAMBILIMA FALLS SITE II – 124 MW
    – KABWELUME FALLS – 62 MW
    – KUNDABWIKA FALLS – 101 MW
    – MUTINONDO – 40 MW
    – LUCHENENE – 30 MW
    – MKUSHI – 65 MW

    • It will take just two consecutive draughts and your data goes to 0 Megawatts capacity. I don’t like nature dependent technology anymore.

    • @ Chaka wape Tenga

      Learn something before you comment.

      Nuclear power plants need massive amounts of WATER for their cooling! They will be shut down long before dams with 5 years of stored water will if there is a drought.

      Our current load shedding is not because of drought. This is just a PF excuse! It is because of incompetent MANAGEMENT that opened the gates in 2011 and flushed A WHOLE YEARS SUPPLY OF WATER DOWN THE DRAIN!

      Check the FACTS!

  36. You do not need Nuclear Engineers to operate a nuclear power plant like any other power plant. All you need is a Mechanical Engineer with up-scaled knowledge of thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and turbo machinery.
    A nuclear power plant uses uranium pellets as energy emitter just like coal does when burnt to heat up the water raising the steam at high pressure that rotates the gas turbines and in turn the alternators. It’s not rocket science. The nuclear fuel in pellet form logged in a fuel **** placed in a case inside the reactor surrounded with water. The most important job on this technology is cooling down the reactor chamber continuously. If the cooling system fails, it melt the containment vessel and release…. err! I don’t know where you will be. Safer than AIDS though.
    As for the…

  37. Zambians can be careless at work places and with high levels ignorance this project will turn out to be nuclear disaster wiping out these alcohol zombies. Why going nuclear when we can still generate a huge potential from solar and biomass energy. Loadshedding will never end as long people adopt efficient methods or technology

  38. good one mr President and the pf team..we do know some of these people are gnashing thier teeth after realising pf is still walking the talk…others are giving examples of Hiroshima kikikiki …who does that…that’s just the same f being scared of a hassle stove that it may go boom.such minds are the one depriving progress to occur and such minds are none other than upnd…im sure they will complain of solar soon when it’s introduced…I’m breaker ,I’m transcendent ,im back and I approve this message

  39. nuclear energy requires high expertise, experience and sound management. there in zambia, people steal transformer oil from power lines, so what would stop them from stealing nuclear waste. mwebene ati “amasampo”. i think we are better off with solar and wind energy. on the other hand there is too much uncollected garbage in your so called lusaka, ndola & kitwe. zesco can make use of that rubbish to produce electricity. you do not need the chinese to come show you how to collect, process and burn garbage to heat water to produce steam which in turn runs the turbines to generate power. WHERE ARE YOUR SUBSTANDARD OR BAKED ENGINEERS FROM YOUR DILAPIDATED AND OBSOLETE unza?
    Come to Namibia and refresh your eyes and brain. WINDHOEK Vs lusaka!

  40. Think big, pea brains! Stop exposing your ignorance. Wind and solar power won’t solve the World’s energy crisis. If you understand some elementary Physics, compare the energy content per cubic metre of wind with that of uranium. no contest! As long as you keep aligning yourselves with the West, who are only burdening you with huge loans for power projects which will only produce a few kilowatts, you are heading no where. They are deliberately limiting your progress. Unfortunately, you are all chasing their rotten carrot.

    Enter the following string in your YouTube search and listen to Mr. Perkins:
    “John Perkins; Confessions of an Economic Hit-man”
    If you thought USA was your friend think again!

  41. The principal issues are these: costly, unachievable without international help (and resultantly expense), long lead-in time with resultantly no predictability of a market, would put average electricity prices up (not down), inadequate emergency response capability in country, no guaranteed market for this (15 year down the line) electricity supply. Of course the Russians will sign MOU’s with any gullable ‘power adolescent’! There was an article in he paper today warning school leavers to not be sucked into these promos where you (the gullable teenager) pay 300 ZMK up-front to be considered for a job! Same thing really here – we are been taken for a ride!

  42. P.S. – Zambia would be much better advised doing something that they do in Europe – a much more recent source of power than nuclelear generation: burming elephant grass to generate electricity, and paying farmers to grow it!

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