Govt explains reduction in power deficit

Government says various interventions in the energy sector have resulted in the country’s power deficit reducing from 1000 Mega Watts in 2015 to about 300 Mega Watts at the end of 2016.

Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary, Brigadier General Emeldah Chola said this during the official opening of the Energy Stakeholders Workshop organized by the European Union in Lusaka this morning.

General Chola says as a response to the country’s power deficit, the government prioritized energy efficiency as a short term measure as evidenced by the issuance of Statutory Instrument No. 74 of 2016 which banned the importation of incandescent bulbs in Zambia.

She says government further facilitated the accelerated implementation and completion of new power projects by commissioning the 120 Mega Watts Itezhi-Tezhi Hydro Power Project and the 150 Mega Watts Maamba Thermal Power Plant.

Speaking at the same workshop, European Union (EU) Head of Energy Sector, Adam Grodzickie disclosed that the EU has set aside K2.5 million for various energy sector programs in Zambia.

He points out that this is by far the largest EU energy agreement.