Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) has urged Government to formulate a renewable energy policy to provide for strategies and targets that would develop the renewable energy sub sector.
PMRC Head of Monitoring and Evaluation Salim Kaunda says this would result in renewable energy producers to sell their power to the national grid, provided the revenue collected covers the cost and interest payments.
Mr Kaunda says the current reliance on hydroelectric generation may not meet future demand and a broader mix of energy and independent power producers will be needed to meet growing national demand and industrial development.
Mr Kaunda says urgent measures need to be put in place if the country is to counter the increasing power demand.
He notes that the Zambian energy sector needs massive investments and government must create an enabling policy environment that attracts investors and allows for significant developments to add to the national power supply.
Mr Kaunda adds that in order to attract investors in the energy sector, the Government must carefully design a viable cost reflective system.
He states that an enabling regulatory environment is key to attracting investments into the energy sector as well as translates to increased generation of power to satisfy demand.
He notes that the energy sector in Zambia has potential to generate abundant power to the SADC region.
Mr Kaunda further notes that Zambia in its energy policy to date, has put more emphasis on grid-connected hydro-power rather than other renewable energy technologies, although key government policy guiding documents, including Vision 2030, Revised Sixth National Development Plans (R-SNDP) and National Energy Policy allude to the importance of harnessing other renewable energy resources to meet the country’s growing energy needs.