Allocate K700m to REA

Energy Expert Johnston Chikwanda has called on the UPND administration to consider allocating at least 700 million kwacha to the Rural electrification Authority in the 2022 national budget.

Mr. Chikwanda who is immediate past REA board chairperson notes with concern that funding to the authority has been reducing systematically since 2018 despite going up in 2021, hence the need for the 2022 funding allocation to be more than doubled from the 2021 funding level.

He notes that while the UN SDG no.7 is calling for 100% electrification by 2030, the Rural Electrification Authority has projected a rural electrification of only 51% by 2030 at an annual budget of US$50 million of the implementation phase of the Rural Electrification Master Plan which means that if funding to the Master Plan was increased beyond $50 million per year, Zambia could achieve over 51% rural electrification by 2030.

Mr. Chikwanda says significant funding above $50million per year will be required in order for the New Dawn Government to achieve its ambitious plan of rolling out a robust renewable energy plan in rural areas.

Meanwhile Mr. Chikwanda has urged Government to ensure funding to projects in the energy sector is increased in the 2022 national budget.