Zambia’s government has announced a cut in electricity exports due to low power generation in the country. In an interview with ZANIS, Energy Minister Peter Kapala explained that the government will not completely halt exports in order to maintain existing power markets. Currently, ZESCO, the country’s power utility company, is facing financial difficulties and relies on exports to support its operations.
Mr Kapala acknowledged the disruption caused by ongoing load management but emphasized the importance of avoiding a complete shutdown. He stated that the government’s priority is to ensure that industries continue to operate in order to sustain the economy. Water levels at the Kariba Dam, a major source of electricity for the country, are currently at 3.4 meters, significantly lower than in previous years. As a result, Zambia is losing 300 to 600 megawatts of electricity from the expected 1,080 megawatts of power at the Kariba North Bank power station.
To improve the situation, the government is working to bring the 105 Megawatt Ndola Energy Power Plant and the 150 Megawatt 5th generating unit at the Kafue Gorge lower Hydro Power Station online. Kapala expressed hope that load management will stabilize in the first quarter of the year.
In the meantime, the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has reassured mining companies that they will not experience power outages due to the national rotational load shedding implemented by ZESCO. This follows the development of a solar power plant, which is expected to generate an additional 34 Megawatts for the national electricity grid.
Overall, the government’s decision to reduce electricity exports is a response to the challenges of low power generation in Zambia. While exports will not be completely halted, the government is working to address the root causes of the issue and bring new sources of power online. In the meantime, measures such as load management will be implemented in order to ensure a stable supply of electricity to the country.
This is a Sanford and son sitcom. At the time these guys took over government loadshedding had come to an end because of the commissioning of the the Kafue Gorge hydropower station ( cut off my middle finger if loadshedding continues: Mathew Nkhuwa). Come in Upnd without shame: we have ended loadshedding.
Surely Eng Kapala is only trying to cover up for his employer’s gaffs?
Oooooh! Zambians please wake up now will you? Smell the coffee now. Is not true that the previous administration worked their @ss out to revolve the menacing load shedding which dates back from the Mwanawasa regime? Zambians focus. Keep the your eyes on the focal point. It’s not about exports, it’s about the unfolding narrative. Zesco will soon be on the line. It will be hot story for an asset to be sold. The discussions on incessant international trips and dark corner meetings like that one where your president with his Zairean counterpart sat with Secretary Antony Blinken – USA secretary of state on mining rights. Zesco will be vanish before your very eyes.
Chipante pante Government…they keep on contradicting themselves…..the other one was justifying the electricity exports and the Minister is issuing a contradicting statement….UPND IS A FAILED PROJECT…..I have always doubted HH’s wealth….now I know all his money came from auctioning of Zambian companies….it turns out HH is worse than Lungu when it comes to incompetence and looting
(Zambia’s government has announced a cut in electricity exports) how much power is Zambia exporting ? and and at what percentage is the cut off ? it sounds like game of politics when you analyzes this nothing one can take serious. the cut off does it mean a reduce in the hours of load shading or its business as usual. what do you want the Zambians to believe after the boss bragged ati just in 10 months in office we have ended load shading they will be no load shading, same one was telling us ati the PF missused the water at Kariba what do you want us to believe
We’re are being ruled by children that is all I can say….where the gap between a doctor and a patient results in drug shortage.
20 years in opposition and HH still doesn’t know how to run a country….HH is a very big disappointment it turns out he is just in it for the money not the well-being of Zambians….big crook this man HH and he should be forced out of office or he should just resign
Fuseke, the only thing hh knows is selling national resources to foreigners.
The worst thing about this same power crisis is not even the loadshedding itself but the LIES that we were told that this thing is of the past.
When will Government work with Commercial Banks to give soft secured loans to home owners to instal Solar panels on our house tops? This, though small will wean off many properties from using the National Grid power mostly during the day and also exporting the excess to the same National Grid which has problems satisfying the demand at home and beyond our boulders. Remember, if you do what you have always done, you will have what you have always had. It’s time to move forward. Let government actualise the slogan, “Zambia, Forward” with New Technologies. I have solar panels on top of our roof in Manchester UK where there isn’t as much sunshine as Zambia is blessed with.
NOAH CHIJINGU – In Africa you are allowed to have a house operating offgrid in Urban areas but in UK its illegal to disconnect from the grid…you say you have solar panels but you are not off grid.
Not true. You can go off grid if you want in London. My in-laws live off grid in the UK
Great! Your in-laws know the value of what I am talking about. Learn more from them before you reject my suggestion. God bless you and happy New Year!
@Noah I was responding to Tarino. I haven’t rejected your suggestion
African leaders can do whatever they want because they know there’s no accountability…everyone seems to be making jokes of the current situation…..AFRICA WE JOKE TOO….no wonder 60 years after independence we still live in poverty because we are not serious
First of all – you should not have been exporting electricity at the backdrop of killing the economy. Small Scales Business are the bedrock of every *developing & *developed nation as they are always the biggest employers in any nation. It’s small businesses such as *hair salons, *metal-fabricators, *fast-foods that employ an average of 3 to 7 people that need electricity to survive. They are also collectively the biggest business taxpayers into Exchequers in any nation. And not the giant big global corporations. Its fertilizer, medicine, load-shedding scandals. Stop the lies and get serious !!
That is leadership……
This new GRZ does not make knee jerk decisions…………
Decisions are weighted and deliberated………
some electricity exports will be curtailed to cushion load shedding.
So ????
That is leading……
This new GRZ does not make knee jerk decisions…………
Decisions are weighted and deliberated………
some electricity exports will be curtailed to cushion load shedding.
So ????
Just be honest. Loadshedding has e-started in Zambia because we are exporting electricity to South Africa.
Well you have reduced the export of power but the loading still remain the same at 12hrs a day
Its not adding up.
Big miscalculation by the Energy Minister. I hope the UPND will learn from this mishap.
@Independent
Am shocked this is coming from you….wasangamo ukufilwa muli Bally…..anyway sometimes it’s good to be objective just like Spaka has now given up on Bally
We thought lies went with previous government. They said load shedding is due to low water levels and not Exports. Now they are admitting that we are exporting.
The problem we have is too many of our leaders are shortsighted…let councils get involved in solar farms so they get revenue from ZESCO or directly from the consumners via subsidiary companies. I am sure if councils themselves had a business proposal took it the bank what would stop them getting funding. Let ZESCO export its electricity but start unbundling it asap!!
Just fire this man…Zabwino plibe!