•PRESIDENT Lungu’s special envoy on energy Dora Siliya meets with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi. Ms Siliya was in Mozambique to discuss 2016 power imports and construction of a gas pipeline and power plant.
By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has, through his special envoy on energy Dora Siliya, held progressive discussions with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi to increase the supply of energy to Zambia.
This is in a bid to stabilise and improve the energy sector in Zambia. Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda confirmed this in an interview yesterday.
Mr Chanda said Mr Lungu sent Ms Siliya, who is Energy and Water Development minister, as his special envoy to President Nyusi to find ways to increase supply of electricity and other forms of energy in Zambia.
Ms Siliya and the Mozambican leader discussed matters of cooperation on energy between the two countries.
“I can confirm that President Lungu sent Honourable Siliya as special envoy to Mozambican President Nyusi to discuss matters of cooperation between the two countries. This is in a bid to improve and stabilise the energy sector,” Mr Chanda said.
He said Ms Siliya also held discussions with her Energy counterpart in Mozambique.
The talks focused on increased trade and cooperation on energy and new initiatives aimed at improving the energy sector.
The discussions also touched on establishing a gas pipeline between the two countries.
Mr Chanda said Mozambique had the capacity to supply Zambia with huge amounts of natural gas at competitive prices.
Zambia was also working on developing natural gas supply through the Maamba thermal plant, as well as looking at ways to improve the levels of alternative energy from hydro power.
Mr Chanda said the discussions in Mozambique went well, although details could not be discussed at this stage owing to the fact that Ms Siliya and her counterpart in Mozambique were still discussing various issues.
He said President Lungu had also tasked Ms Siliya to travel to South Africa at the end of this week on a similar assignment as that in Mozambique.
