Govt justifies power importations

Energy and Water Development Minister Dora Siliya says the economic cost of importing power is lower compared to the cost of not importing it.

Speaking during an energy conference in Lusaka today, Ms. Siliya points out that if electricity is not imported, jobs will be lost, and many other sectors of the economy will suffer including households as the load shedding hours may be more compared to when it is imported.

Ms. Siliya says government is committed to keeping industries running so that people can continue to earn their incomes.

And Ms. Siliya says her ministry working together with Germany and USAID has begun the process of addressing the issue of tariffs following an outcry from the public on the need to gradually adjust electricity tariffs.

She has also appealed to stakeholders to help government on how best to promote investment in the energy sector at the same time meeting the expectation of the people in terms of tariffs.

And speaking earlier, Stanbic Bank Zambia Chief Executive Officer Charles Mudiwa says the bank will endeavor to make a positive contribution to the energy sector to help mitigate the challenges the sector is facing.