By AARON CHIYANZO in Chikankata
ZAMBIA is now on secure energy footing with electricity generation capacity of 3, 600 megawatts against national consumption of 2, 300 megawatts, President Edgar Lungu has said.
President Lungu said the PF government had increased power generation in the country by 70 percent with the introduction of over 1, 300 megawatts into the national grid from different power generation projects.
The project has created 4, 000 jobs. President Lungu was speaking during the commissioning of the 150 megawatts first unit of the 750 megawatts Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station being constructed at a cost of US$2.3 billion.
“When we formed government, we identified the need to invest in infrastructure…. We have made tough but worth well decisions along this route. Economic gains will benefit the country and outlive all of us,” he said.
President Lungu said in its quest to ensure that power supply in the country was in tandem with the demand, the PF government upgraded the Lunzua Power Station from seven megawatts to 14 megawatts, Musonda Falsl Station from five to 10 megawatts, the Lusiwasi Lower from six megawatts to 86 megawatts and commissioned the 120 megawatts Itezhi-Tezhi Power Station.
Meanwhile, Zesco managing director Victor Mundende said such projects could only be done when there was serious leadership in the country.
“These come with great challenges but with focused leadership you pull through and we did just that,” he said.
And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Lie Ji applauded the cooperation between Zambia and China, saying that there were over 600 Chinese companies with billions of investments in the country.
