STATE PAYS $27M FOR ESKOM POWER

GOVERNMENT

Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu said Govern-ment had paid US$27m to the South African power utility company to start the importation of 300 megawatts of electricity for one month.

Speaking to journalists at State House in Lusaka yesterday, Dr. Ng’andu said he would engage Zesco to find out when the imports would com-mence after making the payment.

“We have met the obligation of importing power from Eskom in South Africa. We have paid for one month for us

has paid US$27 million to Eskom of South African to start importing 300 megawatts of power.

to import 300 megawatts from Eskom. I will have to talk to Zesco to see when the imports will start, but we have the resources,” he said.

He said the only challenge remaining in terms of stabilising power supply was with Maamba Col-lieries.

Dr. Ng’andu said that one machine at Maamba Collieries was down that generates about 150MW of power.

He also stressed that Government had started dis-mantling debt Zesco owes Maamba Collieries.

Dr. Ng’andu said Government started paying Maamba Collieries yesterday, and that the remain-ing balance would be cleared next week.

Dr Ng’andu the obligations said which that the government was fulfilling to Maamba Collieries would help to work on the repairs.

He said once the repairs were done, Maamba Col-lieries would double the power supply to Zesco to cushion the deficit.

Dr Ng’andu said the country would be in a dan-gerous position if the power deficit being experi-enced was not addressed.

He said this was why Government was in a hurry to ensure that the power supply stabilised.