By CHRSTINE MWAABA –
MANY people tend to give different views and opinions on the state of affairs about the country’s power deficit, with some coming up with assertions to suit their tastes.
In spite of experts explaining the true picture of the status quo, some people still feel the truth is not good enough and have continued to express their own views to satisfy their own interests.
Early this year, this author had undertaken an on-the-spot check at Kariba Dam where experts clearly stated that water inflows would certainly increase, enabling most of the power stations in the country to generate electricity at full capacity.
Little by little, the water inflows have increased in the last few months, making some of the power generating dams to have increased water levels to allow them operate at full capacity.
Barely a few months after President Edgar Lungu commissioned the 120 Mega Watts (MW) Itezhi-Tezhi hydropower station in Central Province, full power generation capacity has been attained.
As a result, Zesco has reduced power rationing, or load shedding, from the previous eight hours a day to only four hours.
This follows the increase in the water levels at Itezhi-Tezhi Dam enabling the power station to function at full capacity.
The progress with the water inflows is vital in the provision of electricity to the public.
During the opening of the Itezhi-Tezhi power station, President Lungu expressed optimism that the prevailing power deficit the country faced would come to an end.
He said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government was serious in its efforts to ensure that the country becomes a net exporter of power by 2019.
The recent developments, in as far as the improved water levels are concerned, brings out the fact that despite the poor rainy season the country had, Zambia still managed to receive a fair share of rainfall to facilitate fairly favourable levels of power generation.
For some reason, the elements seem to have worked in the country’s favour and even in the face of reduced water levels, it remains an undeniable fact that water is the most valuable resource for power generation in Zambia.
The rainfall distribution has certainly made the hydropower station sites across the country, especially at Itezhi-Tezhi dam, to have sufficient inflows that have pushed up the water levels.
The power utility, Zesco, is optimistic that power rationing hours will further reduce as the company continues to commission new electricity generation projects.
Most of the new projects are near completion. Zesco senior manager for marketing and public relations Bessie Banda attributed the reduction in power blackouts to water levels that have progressively increased at the dam in Itezhi-Tezhi, which will in turn allow the power station to generate electricity at full capacity.
“Zesco Limited would like to inform its esteemed customers and the general public that following the improvement of water inflows at Itezhi–Tezihi Dam, Zesco is now able to generate at full capacity of 120MW.
“This development, coupled with the increase in electricity imports, has made it possible for Zesco to reduce load shedding from eight to four hours daily,” she said.
Prior to this new development, some people were not sure that power rationing would ever reduce and even if it did, that was a long time to come.
Mattews Tembo was one such pessimist. The Kafue business executive complained that his business had been negatively affected by incessant power outages which made it difficult for him to keep dairy products like milk.
Mr Tembo owns a shop that stocks perishable items in Kafue.
Chanda Banda of Lusaka’s Chilenge Township complained about the noise from diesel generators which has become a common part of life whenever electricity was off in her neighbourhood.
But she was quick to indicate that not many people in her township could afford to buy generators.
She said power outages had continued to be a headache as most people like her rely on electricity from Zesco.
“It is difficult to find other sources of electricity at this point because I cannot afford a generator. In addition to that, all of us have to deal with the possibility of having our electric appliances damaged because of the power blackouts,” she said.
Ms Banda said while some people might be lucky enough to be compensated when their electric appliances get damaged by electricity going on and off, the inconvenience of having to file claims is too tedious for many people.
At the moment, the anxiety most people have about how long it would take to stop power rationing is giving way to a hopeful outlook as water levels steadily rise to accelerate hydropower generation to satisfy the demand.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) expressed confidence that even when the country is in the middle of a crippling electricity crisis because of the limited water available for power generation, the water level has improved because of increased inflows.
ZRA chief executive director Munyaradzi Munodawafa said water inflows from upstream, such as in Mwinilunga and the Baroste plains, had increased and the water was being absorbed in dams in the last few months.
Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Emelda Chola has since assured the nation that the Government will ensure prompt completion of new power supply projects that are under construction.
Brigadier General Chola said the increase in water levels in most of the hydro electricity generation sites is a positive development, especially in the case of the power station at Itezhi-Tezhi.
She expressed hope that the same would happen for other electricity generation sites which have been equally hit low water levels.
“Government is working day and night to ensure that the country has adequate supply of power to boost industrial, social and economic activities,” Brig Gen Chola said.
Energy is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of all sectors of the economy.
It is an essential service whose availability and quality determines the success or failure of national development endeavours.
Therefore, the importance of energy as a sector in the national economy cannot be over-emphasised.