By JAMES KUNDA –
NDOLA Energy will this month expand its 50 Mega Watts (MW) power plant as the country finds further means to mitigate load-shedding.
Last month, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a deal to develop hydropower plants on the Luapula River as a long-term measure to boost power generation for both countries.
The two countries signed an inter-governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint project, which would start in 2017 and complete in 2020.
. Yaluma
Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said the expansion of the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) power plant at Ndola Energy was expected to commence soon.
This follows a directive by Cabinet that the facility, adjacent to Indeni Petroleum Refinery, be expanded to boost alternative sources of electricity supply in the country.
Mr Yaluma said in an interview in Lusaka that the Government was in talks with the developers of Ndola Energy and that the project to expand the existing plant was on cards.
“The project is on and should start anytime from now. I have met the superiors at Ndola Energy and I will be presenting the outcome of these negotiations to Cabinet,” he said.
Mr Yaluma said the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) had also proposed to put up a similar plant in an area that would be identified as best suited to accommodate the facility.
“There are also discussions over the same with CEC which has indicated the capacity to also put up a 50 MW HFO plant,” he said.
Mr Yaluma said the Government was keen on ensuring that alternative sources of energy were explored to mitigate current and future electricity deficits due to growth in economic activities.
Water levels at the Kariba and Itezhi-Tezhi reservoirs have drastically reduced due to poor rainfall in the 2014-2015 rainy season, forcing the Zambezi River Authority to ration water used for power generation by 10 per cent.
The country has been experiencing load-shedding with Zesco rationing power supply to each domestic customer for between six to 10 hours per day.
