ZESCO explains power blackouts in Lusaka

By LINDA SOKO TEMBO POWER blackouts experienced in certain parts of Lusaka have been attributed to the installation of optic fiber at the 33 KV distribution lines.

Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) spokesperson Henry Kapata said the optic fiber that ZESCO was installing at that 33 KV distribution lines was aimed at improving service delivery.

He said that the purpose of optic fiber was to install what was known as smart metering and that once installed the utility company would monitor the quality of power system.

“Meaning that before you as a client calls us to say we have low power voltage we already know and we have done something about it we will be very much advanced with the new optic fiber,” he said.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, he further explained that the optic fiber would help the utility company have an effective supervisor control and data acquisition system (SCADA).

“SCADA is a particular system where we are able to monitor all what is happening in all our substations if there is vandalism, if there is somebody who has encroached our facility or if somebody is syphoning transformer oil,” he said.

Mr Kapata said because of this new system, the company would be able to detect any illicit activity at its installations and be able to apprehend the situation before it reached an alarming proportion.

Mr. Kapata explained that because of the installation exercise, power was being switching off so that ZESCO would do a good job. We are dealing with live lines we have to switch them off for as to do our job well,” Mr. Kapata said.

Mr Kapata described the power cuts as blackouts and not load-shedding. “This is what is causing the blackouts in some parts of Lusaka because of the cables which are being replaced that have seen better days. A lot of them are old this is the time we can replace them before the rains,” he said.

Mr. Kapata said he was hopeful that the project that started two weeks ago would be completed by March next year adding that the project would also be extended to the 7 major towns on the Copperbelt.