YOU’LL GET 24HS POWER SUPPLY EVEN AFTER ELECTIONS – ENERGY MINISTER
ENERGY Minister Makozo Chikote has disclosed that government intends to build about seven power interconnectors to strengthen cross-border energy trade.
Meanwhile, Chikote says the country will continue to experience the 24-hour power supply even after the elections.
Chikote was responding to a question by Chinsali MP Kalalwe Mukosa in the National Assembly, Tuesday, who wanted to find out if government had any plans to build power interconnectors to strengthen cross-border energy trade.
Chikote disclosed that the total cost of six interconnectors had already been estimated at $5.5 billion.
“Madam Speaker, our response is as follows: yes, government has plans to build power interconnectors to strengthen cross-border energy trade, and, Madam Speaker, the government intends to build seven interconnector projects, which include: Malawi-Zambia Interconnector, Mozambique-Zambia Interconnector, Solwezi-Kolwezi Interconnector, Angola-Zambia Interconnector, Zimbabwe-Botswana-Zambia-Namibia Interconnector, Botswana Interconnector, Tanzania-Zambia Interconnector. Estimates for the six interconnectors have been determined and the total cost is $5.5 billion. The Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector has advanced and we expect it to be completed in 2028,” he said.
Chikote said the reason government was constructing interconnectors was to make Zambia an energy trading hub.
“As we’re aware, we have a very visionary President. When we were going through difficulties, people thought we were going to remain like that, but you have seen from his good policies that today we’re able to see our country moving to another level. Indeed, we have the plan, Madam Speaker, to make sure that all 156 constituencies have two megawatts of power.
The main reason why we’re trying to put up these interconnectors is that we want to make Zambia a trading hub in the energy sector. The surplus that we’re going to produce as a country will be traded to our neighbouring countries, which will grow our economy by getting the forex.
So, this is how a methodical leader works, and today everybody in this country is happy, including Honourable Mpundu, who has been troubling me so much by calling me the ‘Minister of Darkness,’” he said.
Chikote said the surplus power to be generated through interconnectors would be traded to other countries.
“Madam Speaker, I was just explaining here that as we keep on generating power for this country, the surplus will be traded to other countries because the interconnectors are not just for importing, they are also for exporting, to have revenues that will help grow the economy. In our administration, Madam Speaker, we’ve also said we’re going to create a conducive environment to allow private-sector participation in growing our economy. Kanona is one of the companies which is also part and parcel of the private sector,” he said.
“And even during our time when we were going through difficulties, the private sector was on board helping us to import power in this country to stabilise the power supply. So, Kanona is just like any other private-sector [company] and actually, last time President Hakainde Hichilema encouraged us to invest in the energy sector. That means private people are being encouraged, including Honourable Mpundu, you can form a company that can help grow the economy”.
Chikote further disclosed that feasibility studies for the Zambia-Malawi Interconnector had been completed.
“Indeed, the feasibility studies for the Zambia-Malawi-Zambia Interconnector have been completed, and discussions are going on with the World Bank,” he said.
Chikote clarified that the current power supply the country was experiencing was not due to the fact that elections were approaching, stating that even after the elections, the country would continue to experience 24-hour power supply.
“Madam Speaker, I think this is the time for even those people who just like criticising to understand that this administration had to put a lot of interventions in place in order to stabilise power supply. One of the reasons why we’ve got a stable supply of power is the power that we’ve been importing to supplement what we’re generating.
In the Southern Power Pool, in one area we were importing power to supplement. I remember in this August House I mentioned that we’re importing 511 megawatts to supplement what we’re generating. So, it’s not the way people are thinking that it’s because of the campaigns that are coming,” said Chikote.
“These are methodical plans which the government has put in place, and I have always said that going forward, and I even mentioned last time, that by December 2025, power supply in the country will change, will move to better levels.
Indeed, today Zambia is not experiencing loadshedding, and these are initiatives that have been put in place by this administration. Even after elections, we’re still going to have 24-hour power supply because of these interventions that we’ve put in place”.
News Diggers
This is sadly exactly what I meant by off the cuff statements.
The question is. You have given us power for 24hrs. Is this an election ploy or its an sustainable move?
The Minister then starts talking about interconnectors that are still being built. When will those interconnectors be operational?
How then does that assure the public that they will have power 24hrs a day after the elections while waiting for these interconnectors? That is the Core of the MPs question.
When we question the competencies of people in office, this is one instance when its apparent.
The Minister should have been also explaining the contigency measures that are in place as the President stated. He spoke of the expansion of the Maamba thermal plant the Choma solar the Chisamba and a number of others.
When a Minister goes to Parliament and is asked to state a position it should reseached armed with facts and figures the Minister should have at his finger tips.
Reading this article and one from the Board Chairman of Zesco you get the sense of another conandrum that we seem to be tip toeing around.
To generate power there is a cost. Unless fixed costs are covered the venture is not viable at inception. Variable costs is one that Management has some leverage. But even that has its limits.
I devel into this as Zesco has over the years and decades stated that its selling power at a cost below production. Its has leveraged its size and assets with Government guarantee to expand production to meet the growing populations demand for power. But that doesnt address the 100 dollar question.
What company or industry will remain viable when it can not cover its costs? How long and is it responsible of ERB to allow this for political expediancy to go on?
Yes ERB says over time tariffs will go up. But will this increase allow Zesco to be viable? Or will have the same situation that Zambia was in 2021 as the BoardChairs says….Zesco is borrowing to import”
Simply put Zesco which is already tithering in debt (like the Zambian government was in 2021) is still borrowing to satisify us. The Public.
How sustainable is this. In the case of the Government a measure and law was put in place to ensure that government borrowing not done wrecklessly as we saw under PF.
What measure has ERB put in place to protect Zesco from borrowing beyond a sustainable level but also ensure that the tariff that they demand from Zesco to charge consumers is right for the institution. Its an accurate depiction of the cost of bringing power to rhe consumer.
In doing this what is ERB also doing to guarantee power will be available 24hrs 365 days so that producers that need power can be productive? The Ministers reaponse was an off the cuff response that doesnt help the already unsettled minds. Clear concise answers settles ones mind.
We have conmen in government. Corrupt Liars.
They think citizens are cows.
DO NOT BE FOOLED.
DO NOT BE A FOOL.
REJECT TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION AND OPPRESSION.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN AUGUST.