By Mubanga Mubanga
Zesco has announced that there will be emergency power rationing in the next 15 days due to maintenance works for the second unit at Maamba collieries.
In a statement issued yesterday by the corporate affairs department, the utility company stated that the first unit routine maintenance was successfully completed.
“Now the second unit was scheduled for maintenance starting 17 September 2024,” read the statement in part.
“This serves to inform you that one of the two units at Maamba Collieries has been successfully restored after routine maintenance and is back online. The second unit has now been taken offline for scheduled maintenance, commencing on Tuesday, 17th September 2024,” corporate affairs department stated.
ZESCO stated that this maintenance phase would result in 150MW being unavailable on the national grid for the next 15 days.
“During this period, emergency power rationing may occur due to the reduced supply,” the company stated.
Meanwhile, in a follow up statement later in the evening yesterday, Zesco clarified the withdrawal of the Maamba Collieries did not mean there was going to be a total blackout.
“But it referred to non-availability … from the grid of 150 MW because of the scheduled maintenance at Maamba,” stated the utility company. “We would like to clarify that the recent update regarding the Maamba Collieries unit does not mean you will experience a complete power outage for the next 15 days. It refers to the temporary unavailability of 150MW from the grid as the unit undergoes scheduled maintenance.’
ZESCO stated that it was working to minimise the impact on power supply during this period.
