Japan offers Zambia help to deal with power deficit

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda

Japan has offered to help Zambia overcome the current electricity deficit by investing in research to ascertain which alternative sources of energy it would invest in.

This was discussed during a meeting at State House today between President Edgar Lungu and the visiting Japanese Prime Minister’s Special Envoy, which touched on various issues including the current power deficit, economic development, the UN Security Council and other issues not of public consumption.

Briefing Journalists at State House this afternoon shortly after the meeting, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda says the Japanese Prime Minister’s envoy noted the need for Zambia to invest in various projects aimed at cementing the energy security.

Mr. Chanda says the Japanese Government has pledged to help Zambia attain this energy security because it is a prerequisite for industrial development.

He says the Japanese have since pledged to bring technology into the country that will make the energy demand adaptive to the environment in the country.

He adds that the Head of State has since assured Japanese investors that Zambia will remain a liberalized economy and that their investment is secured and protected.

And Mr. Chanda says the President also informed the Japanese delegation that Zambia stands by the African position regarding the reform of the UN Security Council.

The delegation which is led by the Japanese Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Hitoshi Kikawada also extended an invitation to President Lungu to attend the first TICAD conference in Africa that will be held in Kenya next year.

TICAD is an open, multilateral and international forum that discusses the future development of Africa.