ZESCO to eliminate diesel generated electricity

By SIABANA KELVIN ZESCO says currently 99 percent of electricity in the country is sourced from water and one percent of power is diesel generated which the company wants to eradicate.

ZESCO Senior Manager - Corporate Affairs, Patrick Mwila said diesel generated energy was not environmental friendly to both domestic and industrial users. Mr Mwila said diesel generated power was an expensive source of energy because the power company spends a lot of money in maintaining diesel powered electricity plants that are mainly located in different rural parts of the country..

He said despite some rural towns or far flung areas in the country depends much on diesel generated power plants the power utility firm was considering to embark on a project that will completely phase out the diesel source of energy in future..

Mr Mwila said it was the desire of ZESCO to ensure that the rural areas in various parts of country and other areas that are not connected to the national grid to be connected in future for a better service delivery to the consumers.

"ZESCO cares about the environment and the power utility firm has embraced the project of planting of different species of trees in areas where the company operates from," said Mr Mwila...

Mr Mwila said most of the power stations in the country are stationed in the Southern part of the country and ZESCO was trying to come up with a solar powered project in future to eradicate the diesel power plants.

He said electricity was the life line of Zambia's economy since the country gained its independence in 1964 from the Britons.

Mr Mwila said ZESCO is 100 percent owned by the government with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) being the leading shareholder.

He said although ZESCO was owned by the Zambian government it is currently operating as a commercial entity with new innovations of the industry.