ZIMEC roundup by MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA and KENNEDY MPESENI –

THE Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has said there is need to increase power generation locations in the country to reduce on electricity evacuation losses caused by the long distances from power sources.
CEC chief operating officer Christopher Nthala said constructing new power stations in the northern region of Zambia would help to reduce on electricity evacuation losses being caused by the long distance from the power sources in the south.
Mr Nthala observed that most of the major power stations were located south of the country, while major economic activities like mining were concentrated in the Northern Region.
“Most of the major power plants are located in the southern part of the country and this entails that power has to be transported across a long distance to the north to supply critical industries and in the process a lot of power is being lost,” Mr Nthala said.
He said this in a presentation at the just ended two-day Fifth Zambia International Mining Energy Conference and Exhibition held at Lusaka’s New Government Complex at the weekend.
Mr Nthala noted that the northern region had more water than the southern region looking at the current rainfall patterns hence the need to increase the locations.
Developing power plants in the Northern region would ensure security of power sources.
Mr Nthala described the energy sector in the country as a crisis which needs urgent attention by considering relaxing rules on investments in power plants.
Zesco Limited director of strategy and corporate services Besty Phiri acknowledged that Zesco was losing more power due to the long distance from which power was being evacuated.
Mr Phiri said Zesco has identified locations in the region and that power plants had been developed which would soon come on line.
Zesco is spending US$1billion on the development of power stations in the northern region.
He said the Lusuwasi, being developed at the cost of $254 million, would produce 86 megawatts, while the $47 million Lusuwasi Upper would contribute 15 megawatts to the national grid.
Chishimba Falls Power Station is being upgraded to 15 megawatts and costing $65 million, while a geothermal power plant at Kapisha would produce two megawatts and will cost $2 million.
These and many more projects in the Northern Region, Mr Phiri said, were some of the interventions Zesco has  putting in place to reduce losses incurred in transporting power for long distances.