Zesco ready for CEC talks

WE have sent an invitation to Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) to resume talks on the Bulk Power Supply Agreement but there is no official response, Zesco has said.

Zesco Corporate Affairs Manager James Kunda said the power utility company was more than ready to resume talks to arrive at an agreement on new terms.

Dr Kunda said Zesco was looking forward to ensure that talks were concluded.

He said in an interview yesterday that the team which had been holding talks with the private power supplier had sent an invitation to CEC but there was no response to date.

Recently, the Minister of Energy, Mr Mathew Nkhuwa directed the two firms to resume talks and agree on new terms.

Mr Nkhuwa said Government wanted to ensure that the impasse between the two parties was resolved amicably.

The minister said he was expecting the two parties to resume talks by now so that all the issues which were raised could be resolved and reach at an agreement.

"I had a meeting with Zesco and Copperbelt Energy Corporation team at my office on Thursday last week and I directed them to resume talks as soon as possible and by now I expect them to start the talks," Mr Nkhuwa said.

But Dr Kunda said the power utility company had made efforts to ensure that talks began but the private power supply had not made effort to communicate as to when talks could resume.

"Our doors have remained open to have that conversation with CEC, we have not refused to meet them, we are very available.

So let the CEC make necessary appointment then we sit. Our team can even go to the Copperbelt just to meet them," Dr Kunda said.

Meanwhile, CEC corporate communications officer, Chama Nsabika said that while CEC had always been and continues to be keen to engage with Zesco to resolve any outstanding matters, the corporation had not been invited to any meeting in the recent past.

Ms Nsabika said CEC had not received any invitation from Zesco to resume talks and that it was not true that they had sent an invitation which was not responded to.

"The correct position is that CEC is not in receipt of any invitation on that matter from Zesco," she said.