By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
THE upgrading of  15 Megawatts Lunzua power station by Zesco at the cost of K52 million and the construction of the Kasama electricity substation will boost industrial activity in Northern Province,
Provincial minister Freedom Sikazwe has said.
The Province has been experiencing low voltage due to the low capacity of electricity which discouraged investment in sectors requiring high power voltae.
To respond to the challenge Zesco was upgrading Lunzua hydro power plant from about four MW to 15 MW and recently constructed a power station in Kasama which had connected Mpika and Chipata Power Stations.
Mr Sikazwe said the two electricity projects would encourage industrial expansion.
“This will encourage industrial expansion in that most of the investors in the province were not expanding production due to low voltage in the Province,” he said.
Mr Sikazwe said now that the two power projects had been completed this would help increase investment activity in the province.
He said the provincial administration would now re-engage investors such as Kalungwishi Sugar Estate the producers of Kasama sugar to encourage locals to engage them on an out-grower scheme programme.
“We earlier engaged the sugar company to see how they can work with local farmers to start supplying sugar cane to them but the response was that the low voltage was discouraging them from expanding sugar production and we think now that the voltage has been boosted this
will work out well,” he said. He said out-grower schemes helped farmers to boost market prospects for small scale farmers.
This did not only assist in finding market for their produce but also assist offer extension services and knowledge transfer which led to increased crop yield.