The government would send USD$24 million to ZESCO the following week to pay Mozambique what is owed for the prior power import into Zambia, according to Energy Minister Peter Kapala.
According to Mr. Kapala, the action is intended to ensure that Mozambique continues to supply Zambia with electricity and to lessen the consequences of load management.
The Minister also stated that the load-shedding schedule has been shortened to four hours per day, meaning that families will only be loaded once per day.
During a press conference in Lusaka, Mr. Kapala claimed there had been an improvement in the water flow into the main hydropower reservoirs, which had led to an increase in Kariba’s power production.
“I am delighted to announce that this improvement in the water inflows has resulted in increased power generation at Kariba North Bank Power Station, Kafue Gorge Power Station, Kafue Gorge Lower Power station. Itezhi-Tezhi Power Station and Victoria falls Power Station. With this improvement, total electricity generation has now increased by 305 Megawatts, bringing the total national generation to 2,215 Megawatts. This increased generation is against the current power demand of 2,380 Megawatts resulting in a reduced power deficit from 470 Megawatts to 165 Megawatts,” he said.
The load-sheding period has subsequently been reconsidered and reduced from eight hours to four hours, according to the energy minister.
Customers would only be load-shed once daily for four hours, he said, adding that as a result of the change, they will now have access to electricity for a total of 20 hours a day as opposed to the previous 16 hours.
Mr. Kapala gave the populace and the business community the reassurance that the administration is making every effort to restore order.
Some of the planned interventions by government include importation of 100 to 200 Megawatts of power from EDM of Mozambique which will further reduce the Power deficit,” he said.
