ZAMBIA has this year experienced a historical and enormous power deficit largely because of the low water levels in the Kariba Dam, the major source of hydro energy in the country.
The power deficit has caused massive loadshedding across the nation as Zesco struggles to ration and ensure an equitable share of electricity.
Government and others have been exploring alternative sources of energy like solar and wind power as part of mitigatory measures to the problem.
Some other hydro power projects have also been initiated like the Pensulo-Kasama which was designed to improve electricity supply in Luapula and Northern provinces.
Among other projects is the 40 megawatts (MW) Kabompo Gorge Hydro power station in North-Western Province whose construction will commence next year among others.
At the weekend, President Edgar Lungu officially handed over the 750mw Kafue Gorge Lower project site in Chikankata to the contractor, Sinohydro Corporation of China.
This is Zambia’s first major power investment in 40 years.
A lot of valuable time was lost on this project due to what the President termed unnecessary red tape and accusations and counter-accusations of wrongdoing, leading to the cancellation of the project several times.
If there was a decisive action, then, maybe Zambia could not have been facing the current power shortage.
The Kafue gorge lower project will undoubtedly add more value in increasing the generation capacity of power supply to our national grid, looking at the prevailing challenges caused by the power deficit.
President Lungu said this project was being implemented by Government and Zesco under a special purpose vehicle called Kafue Gorge Lower Power Development Corporation Limited.
This long awaited project like the President observed will go a long way in mitigating the enormous power deficit Zambia is currently experiencing.
The 750mw Kafue Gorge Lower project will be third largest plant in Zambia after the Kariba North Bank and Kafue Gorge power stations which have installed capacities of 1,080mw and 990mw, respectively.
Mr Lungu said the project was estimated to cost about $2 billion, with Government providing an initial funding of $186 million to Zesco as part of the initial equity and investment contribution to get the project started.
Government’s contribution came from the US$750 million Eurobond obtained to finance infrastructure development in the country.
Indeed, this project will put to shame all doubting ‘Thomases’ who questioned Government’s resolve to address the power shortage in Zambia.
Clearly like the President noted it is not about politics and point scoring, but one that ensures energy security is assured as this is cardinal for socio-economic development.
So those desperate to seek cheap political mileage by opposing such development projects should know that Government has a truthful alternative explanation to give them.
“Those opposing essential borrowing like simply want to keep people in the dark, to ensure the current load-shedding continues to afflict our people and out of that suffering they see a possibility of making political gain,” President Lungu said.
Others have been quick to condemn whenever Government borrows money from bilateral partners for various developmental programmes.
President Lungu emphasised that whenever Government turns to bilateral partners for support, it does so judiciously strictly for essential investments like the Kafue Gorge Lower project.
He reminded the nation that even the existing power infrastructure at Kariba and Kafue power stations was financed through external borrowing.
Therefore, all well-meaning Zambians need to support such viable initiatives by Government, which guarantees us of sustainable energy security.
This is indeed one of the fast-tracked interventions which President Lungu had initiated to ensure that the nation drifts away from the current power shortages as soon as possible.
Next on President Lungu’s power agenda is the commissioning of the 100mw power station in Itezhi Tezhi in Central Province.
Government is scheduled to provide 15 per cent equity funding while the contractor will chip in with 85 per cent for the total cost to be debt financed by China Exim Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
With this developmental path which Government is taking, Zambians are assured of soon having sustainable energy security.