Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lungu on Monday directed that the on-going load shedding continues in order to protect the power generation equipment from possible damage due to reduced water levels.
Zambia is currently facing serious load shedding that has affected businesses. This was the main agenda at this week’s Cabinet meeting at State House.
The following resolutions were made:
1. Countrywide Electricity Load Shedding
Cabinet has deliberated on the electricity situation in the country and has
taken short and long-term measures to alleviate the current power shortage.
In the short-term, Cabinet has:
(a) authorised the importation of 100 mega watts (MW) of power;
(b) directed ZESCO to ensure that the 120MW Itezhi-tezi power station is
commissioned as planned in August 2015;
(c) directed that ZESCO and its private sector partners commissions the
150MW Maamba Coal Powered Station in November 2015;
(d) directed that the on-going load shedding continues in order to protect
the power generation equipment from possible damage due to reduced
water levels;
(e) explored the option of power-renting from ships docked at sea;
(f) directed ZESCO to actively promote the use of renewable energy technologies
In the long-term, Cabinet has:
(a) directed the quick implementation of the Lusiwashi Lower Hydropower
project in Serenje;
(b) directed ZESCO to engage the promoters of Kalungwishi Hydropower Station (150MW) to expedite the implementation of the project;
(c) directed the expansion of Ndola Heavy Fuel Oil plant to 100MW;
(d) approved the construction of the 340MW EMCO thermal powered plant
The above measures and other to be considered at a Special Cabinet meeting next week are designed to alleviate the shortage of electricity due to the reduced water levels at Kariba North Bank Power Station, Kafue Gorge Power Station and Victoria Falls Power Station due to reduced water levels. The maximum power deficit the country faces is estimated at 560MW. In the interim,this deficit will be sourced from both power imports and load shedding.
ZESCO Limited has embarked on a countrywide power rationing mechanism in order to preserve the limited water available for power generation until the 2015/16 rainy season.
As a result of the current situation ZESCO’s revenue losses will be as follows:
(a) US$97 million: revenue loss due to reduced sales to customers
(b) US$70 million: revenue loss due to reduced sales to distribution customers
(c) US$60 million: cost of power imports between now and December
(d) US$60 million: the overall funding gap due to reduced generation
ZESCO Limited has revised the load-shedding programme from 2-4 hours a
day. The load-shedding programme will be implemented in an equitable
manner to ensure that the burden is spread across all areas apart from essential services and operations.
2. Opening of a Consulate-General in Guangzhou City in Guangdong
Province of The People’s Republic of China:
Under this Item, Cabinet approved the opening of a Consulate in Guangzhou City of Guangdong Province of the People’s Republic of China.
Zambia and China maintain diplomatic relations on a residential basis in
each other’s capital, at Ambassadorial level. However, it has become necessary to open a Consulate in Guangzhou City to further strengthen relations between the Republic of Zambia and the People’s Republic of China, and in particular, to take advantage of the vast opportunities for trade, investment and tourism that the province of Guangdong offers. The Consulate will also provide consular services to both Zambians and Chinese nationals.
2. Revised National Tourism Policy:
Under this Item, Cabinet approved for implementation, the Revised National
Tourism Policy. The 1997 Tourism Policy was revised in order to be aligned to the Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto, the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP), the Revised Decentralisation Policy, the Job Creation and Industrialisation Strategy and other recent trends and best practices i
These guys sit there and punish the Zambian people more, because in their homes there is power and there is water, all paid for with my money for them to live well. When they are sick they go to India or SA. This is totally bad leadership. No vision for the country. Time will tell….
All this is a pointer to many failures of Edgar Lungu and his visionless PF followers. PF have priotised tribalism, blundering of the economy and insulting those they don’t agree with on matters of governance nad running of the economy. All is lost under these uncultured fellows. God help us so that we can have right people to do right things for the country, Zambia. Nothing will ever please us under NO VISION PF. There is need for total change of the top team and better to replace the entire panga family with HH and UPND.
In politics you can either choose the right leaders to do the right things or elect the wrong leaders and beg them to do the right thing.
BA CHIKWANDA !!!!!
Do some “budget planning” for the above and bring us more kaloba as soon as possible.
Please don’t look around for more eurobonds when its too late, but start adding all this in to what we need to borrow !!
We don’t recall you putting this in your budget, so let the party begin.