LUSAKA: Zambia’s national power utility, ZESCO, has assured the country that nationwide load management is not expected to resume this year or in the foreseeable future, pointing to meaningful improvements in electricity generation and sustained investment across the power sector as the foundation of a more stable supply outlook.
ZESCO Managing Director Justin Loongo said the country’s electricity supply situation has stabilised following a series of targeted interventions aimed at strengthening generation capacity and improving the reliability of the national grid. He attributed the improved outlook to increased output from hydro, thermal and solar power sources, as well as deepened partnerships with Independent Power Producers and Independent Power Traders, which have collectively enhanced the resilience of Zambia’s electricity system relative to previous years.
Mr. Loongo said the combined effect of these measures would support a consistent and dependable power supply for households, businesses, mines, industries and other key sectors of the economy that depend on reliable electricity to function.
He did, however, caution that isolated outages may still occur in certain areas as a result of vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure or localised network faults, emphasising that such disruptions remain distinct from the structured, nationwide load management that characterised previous periods of power deficit. He urged the public to report unplanned outages, suspicious activities, vandalism and any damaged electrical infrastructure through ZESCO’s customer service platforms and offices across the country.
In a separate announcement, Mr. Loongo revealed that ZESCO will next week conduct a media tour of selected power generation facilities in Maamba, Livingstone and surrounding areas. The tour, he said, forms part of the utility’s broader effort to maintain transparency and keep the public informed about developments in the energy sector. It will include visits to ZESCO-owned generation plants as well as partner-operated thermal power stations, offering first-hand insight into the measures being undertaken to secure and sustain the country’s electricity supply.
Mr. Loongo reaffirmed ZESCO’s commitment to improving service delivery and maintaining open and regular communication with its customers and stakeholders as the utility continues to work towards a more reliable national power system.
