ZESCO NEGOTIATES PROCUREMENT OF 218 MEGATTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE TO CUSHION POWER DEFICIT
Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote has disclosed that ZESCO Limited has negotiated the procurement of 218 megawatts of electricity at a total cost of US$14 million from Eskom South Africa and Zimbabwe power company to cushion the power deficit.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Chikote says the electricity that has been procured is expected to be injected into the national grid within this month.
And Mr. Chikote has disclosed that two units for Maamba collieries limited will be taken off the grid one at a time as the company is scheduled to undertake its mandatory maintenance at the end of August into September, 2024 adding that this exercise will cause an extra power deficit of 135 megawatts for the month of September.
Meanwhile, the Minister says as at 31st July, 2024, the national peak demand was 2,400 megawatts while the available power generation is only 1,040 megawatts bringing the power deficit to 1,360 megawatts.
And ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani has disclosed that the firm is making a US$21 million loss of revenue on the domestic market owing to the ongoing loadshedding.
PN
Mapani this is just 1% of the demand. What dent will that make on the issue? Lets be serious. You are making a loss cause Government has allowed power tariffs to be low. Buy power and allow those that are will to pay for it to buy at the market price. Havent you in name done that to manufacturers who exceed their tthreashhold? Wont these manufactures pass this cost to consumers? Wont the price of those items these manufactures go up? Will this save inflation? Cosmetic policies to address economic reality dont work. Nigeria and Kenya bit the bullet. Address the nation on the realities at hand and ask if they are willing to take on the tough measures. Putting “lipstick on a pig” doesnt make “ugly” go away.