Chinoyi Chipulu
Energy minister Makozo Chikote has warned of an impending power deficit of up to 435 megawatts that will hit the country starting in the month of August, 2024.
Speaking during a media briefing yesterday, Chikote said the deficit of 135 megawatts would be due to mandatory maintenance works which would be undertaken by Maamba Collieries Limited, expected to commence at the end of August 2024 into September 2024, while the 300 megawatts was on account of water depletion at Kariba.
“I wish to inform the nation that Maamba Collieries Limited is scheduled to undertake its mandatory maintenance commencing end of August 2024 into September 2024. This exercise shall cause an extra power deficit of 135 MW for the month of September as the two units for Maamba shall be taken off the grid one at a time. Further, there is an impending depletion of ZESCO’s water allocation at the Kariba Complex which will also result in an extra power deficit of 300MW,” he said.
Chikote said measures were being undertaken to mitigate the impact of the electricity deficit in the country by procurement of more electricity to close the shortfall.
“ZESCO has negotiated the procurement of 218 MW of power from Eskom, South Africa and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to cushion the anticipated power deficit. The electricity procured from the two companies is expected to be injected in the grid within the month of August 2024,” he said.
He said the utility company had reached an advanced stage in the procurement of generators to be installed at designated locations across the country.
‘Sites have already been identified which include strategic institutions such as hospitals, schools, critical places of business and markets. The first 12 Megawatts shall be secured within the month of August 2024. I am pleased to announce a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance our country’s energy mix through the KFW-funded GET FiT 120 Megawatts Solar Projects which have now reached financial closure with its lenders,” he said.
Chikote said these projects underscored the government’s commitment to diversifying Zambia’s energy mix and ensuring a sustainable future for the nation.
“Cabinet on 30th July, 2024 approved more items to the Tax-Exemption bracket for solar equipment. In light of this, effective midnight tonight, we shall convey instructions to all tax agencies at entry points to update and develop the relevant codes to reflect this change. This will ensure a seamless and efficient importation process for these essential items,” he said.
Chikote called on commercial houses and other private sector entities including citizens at household level to take the challenge and ramp up efforts in migrating to solar energy to support a clean revolution to transform the energy landscape beyond the current drought.
And Zesco Managing Director Victor Mapani said the company was making U$21 Million losses every month due to loadsheding.
Mapani said this had affected the power utility company negatively.
Mapani revealed that factors that had resulted in the company making losses included the high cost of importation of tariffs and the long hours of load shedding which had seen reduced usage of electricity by consumers.
