Govt energy investment paying off, says energy expert

MASSIVE investment in the power energy sector by Government has resulted in reduced power deficit in the country, says energy expert Victor Hazemba.

He said Government goals for universal electricity access for all Zambians by 2030 were bearing fruits as more independent power producers (IPP) have come on board.

Mr Hazemba said reliable power energy was a very important component of the economy considering that the mining and manufacturing sectors depended on electricity to function.

“Power energy is identified as an important driving force behind economic development in Zambia, and it’s encouraging the government has declared its commitment to developing and maintaining energy infrastructure aimed at improving service delivery,” he said.

He said although the average national access to electricity was still low at 31 percent with 67 percent of the urban and four percent of the rural population having access to power, the construction of new hydro and solar power plants would result in more people accessing electricity in less than 10 years’ time.

“With the coming on board of IPPs on- grid and off-grid power generation, obvious the country should expect the additional megawatts of solar, hydro, and thermal power to the country’s power national grid and this can only be attributed to good planning by Government,” Mr Hazemba said.

He said because of the investment in the energy sector the country was poised to record a massive economic growth.

Mr Hazemba said the $548 million contract signed by Zesco with Power China to develop three solar power plants that will add 600 megawatts (MW) to the national grid, and the 2, 400MW Batoka gorge project is going to be a game change in the economy.