Expert backs State on eliminating load-shedding

WE do not expect any power deficit after 750 megawatts from Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station come on board in December, Energy Expert Johnson Chikwanda has said.

“I stand confident and support the statement made by President Edgar Lungu that load shedding would be the thing of the past because once all 750meggwats (MW) from the Kafue Gorge Lower Power station comes online, “he said.

Mr Chikwanda said besides the 750 MW that would be added to the national grid, there were other projects in advanced stages of commissioning in the thermo energy sector which would be added to the grid.

He was speaking on ZNBC yesterday shortly after the Presidential address to parliament.

Mr Chikwanda said diversification in the energy sector had played a major in saving the country, which has for many years relied on hydropower generation.

“Diversification in the energy matrix is what has saved us because we have been a captive of hydro for all these years until we started to bring in thermal energy, the 300MW from Maamba and solar energy,” he said.

Mr Chikwanda however said the country should not be complacent that once the 750 MW was added to the national grid then load shedding would be completely eliminated.

He explained that what would be eliminated was the deficit because the country had about 70 percent of households that had not been connected to the grid. Mr Chikwanda is of the view that the drive to grow and capacitate the energy sector and electrify the rural areas should continue.

“So what is being emphasized here is a short term to cushion the current challenges that we are having, when we have these power plants come on and one or two smaller solar power plants then definitely will are going to deal with the current energy poverty that we have,” he said.