By SYLVESTER MWALE –
GOVERNMENT has commissioned a US $3.6 million solar project under the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) that is set to provide power to around 5,000 rural households in three districts.
The World Bank funded project which will also power government schools, health centres and staff houses in rural areas, is the first by REA after past projects have concentrated on extending national grid to the rural areas.
Energy Deputy Minister, Charles Zulu launched the project in Kalomo.
The project would benefit a total of 4,700 private households in Kalomo in Southern Province, Lukulu in Western as well as Isoka in Muchinga.
“This is a massive investment which is meant to create an enabling environment which will help our people to engage in productive activities that will contribute to the overall economic development,” he said.
Apart from the 4,700 private households, the project would see the installation of solar system on 707 government institutions in rural areas.
The measure was in response to the low electricity access to rural households where only five per cent of the population was serviced by reliable electricity.
The Government’s vision was to have all rural areas access reliable sources of energy regardless of challenges that arose with rural electrification.
He said the Government was investing in the development of electricity infrastructure in rural areas mainly through extending the national grid in order to enhance growth in rural centres.
REA chief executive officer, Geoffrey Musonda said the REA had adopted sustainable solar market packages in an effort to link power to the rural population.
The Authority was confident the completion of the project would break the existing barriers and challenges of using solar energy as a source of electricity.
He commended the World Bank for funding the project and expressed hope that the relationship between the global bank and the government would continue to flourish.
World Bank representative Joseph Kapika said the institution was happy to be associated with the project meant to increase access to electricity in rural areas.
