THE Government has commissioned the construction of the first Greenfield, 40 Mega Watts (MW) Kabombo Gorge hydro-power project to cost about US$160 million in North-Western Province.
The project will be built by the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC.
The time line for the project situated on Kabompo River in Mwinilunga is four years and when completed, it is expected to reduce the power deficit Zambia had been experiencing for some time.
The project would also create over 1,000 jobs for the local people though it was also expected to displace 115 households at Kamikezhi area.
The project is funded through a Memorandum of Understanding between CEC and Nigeria’s Africa Finance Corporation.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony on Thursday, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister, Christopher Yaluma who commended CEC for the initiative, said the project would help to reduce the power deficit the country was facing.
“In recent years, electricity demand in Zambia has been on the rise owing to the strides made in respect of economic growth. This has exerted pressure on the current available supply,” said Mr Yaluma in a speech read for him by his Permanent Secretary George Zulu.
The national installed capacity presently stood at 1,730 MW but the demand was over 2,000 MW.
Mr Yaluma said the implication on the electricity supply industry was that it had to work at ensuring supply exceeded demand so as not to frustrate the economic development process.
In this regard, the minister said the Kabompo gorge hydro power project was a welcome additional development to the country’s electricity generation capacity.
He urged CEC, Zesco and the Rural Electrification Authority to hasten development in the sector to enhance electricity generation capacity to avert power deficits.
He said it was often the case that communities did not immediately see or experience the benefit of long-term development projects such as the hydro power project and would more likely be concerned about the negative yet temporary consequences like displacement.
“The Patriotic Front Government wants to see a people faced development. It is therefore cardinal that investors explain and ensure that the benefits are felt by the locals,” Mr Yaluma said.
But CEC executive chairperson Hudson Sindowe said housing units would be built for the displaced households.
He said another housing complex for staff and support facilities such as upgrading schools, building a clinic, a police station and housing units for workers would also be built.
“In collaboration with the Road Development Agency, CEC would also undertake a road rehabilitation exercise to upgrade the existing access road from its current state to gravel standard.
Lands Deputy Minister Elijah Muchima affirmed that the matter of issuing title deeds would not be a problem.
North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Seyuba said it was gratifying to see Members of Parliament from different political parties put aside their political attire and focus on development.
“Put aside politics until 2016 and focus on development to uplift people’s lives.
Senior Chief Musele hailed the construction of the project and said CEC should ensure that displaced families were also compensated.
Meanwhile, Mr Seyuba commended CEC’s contribution to infrastructure development in the area citing the construction of three bridges and the power project.
He was speaking at the commissioning of one of the bridges constructed by CEC that was commissioned by Chief Ntambu.
All our provinces have the capacity to channel thousands of MW into our national power demand. Power is the key, way to go people!!
I totally agree; but not all provinces have taken it upon themselves to implement the projects and realise the potential. That has been the missing link for Zambia. Potential is great to have; but its like people want to end at “potential”; dream it well, and die while dreaming that we do have potential. Chiefs have no technical advisers because if they did, they would be in the forefront pushing development agenda.
In partnership with a Nigerian finance organisation, interesting! Dangote’s I hope.
Good. That is what we want to be hearing.
THE GOVT CAN GENERATE ENORMOUS POWER THAT CAN FEED THE WHOLE ZAMBIA WITH SURPLUS TO EXPORT BY SIMPLY BUILD AN HYDRO POWER DAM ON LUAPULA RIVER. I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL GOVTs IN ZAMBIA JUST TINKER ARROUND WITH THINGS. SOLVE THIS POWER PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. ZAMBIA HAS THE PORTENTIAL TO EXPORT TO ALL THE COUNTRIES IN THE REGION AND BEYOND.
US$ 4m per MW sounds expensive. With that amount you can build a sugar plantation and factory with a capacity to produce 30-40MW from bagasse.
This is excellent given that this is renewable energy …bagasse is a by-product from remains of sugar cane, the energy plants an be situated new existing plantations or mills and contribute to the nation grid
Guys please educate me. I have always believed that Hydo electricity is renewable?
This is excellent given that this is also renewable energy…bagasse is a by-product from sugar production (fibrous matter that remains after sugarcane or sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice), the Energy plants can be situated next to existing plantations or mills and contribute power to the nation grid
*excuse the typos on my last post my keyboard is not working properly*
Amayama
Yes, Hydroelectricity is both renewable and sustainable energy as its produced by harnessing the energy of moving water.
I think we should diversify our energy sources and invest in other renewable sources like what the South Africans are doing in the Northern Cape, their investment will not only reduce carbon emissions BUT generate one-tenth of the country’s energy needs into the National Grid.
Another MMD stirred program being commissioned by PF.
power is the key i don’t care which government started it , we can also use some of the extra power for exports to the power hungry south africa .
I just hope that another minister will not rubbish these reports as per usual in this govt of pitiful failures.
Nomba fye Nigerian partnership is worrying , are you sure this project will come to pass?. Just saying, to me this is a typical example Government could use Diaspora Bonds, leverage it with a loan from a credible financing company. “Nigeria” something is definitely wrong, maybe Malawi i would understand. .
Dear Zambia,
You have received a loan offer for $160Million USD. This was money left in my uncles’s account Mr Abu Barkar. Please give me Bank of Zambia details where this money will be deposited.
Any news that is headlined with “DEVELOPMENT PROJECT” is welcome. However, narrowing down to countries like NIGERIA( a foreign aid dependent country), a fellow 3rd world country with a population of 100 Million people living on less than a dollar a day with poverty levels of 71.5 % it’s worth the anxiety. Despite some good Nigerians,Anything with the tag” NIGERIA” on it, should raise a million dollar question. Remember these are the world’s notorious scammers. Back home, sometime back, their scamming prowess at a higher level was shown by their capacity to forge the country`s budget, which had to be withdrawn at the eleventh hour. Are the real funders losing interest in us? Anyway, since we have to work with what we have, I hope somebody reads the fine print of this MOU.
Be careful with the Nigerian companies. Most of them are crooks they will swindle the government and run away
AFC is a reputable FI and Zambia should be a regional member of that institution. I think Dipak sits on their board. This is not a katemba on top of a “tongue” speaking church building.
Anyway, the cost of 4m$/Mw is too high. This should normally be less than 1.5m$/mw costruction costs. I suspect this gonna be a run off the river generating system. For such projects, the construction costs are likely to be high.
1000 jobs? normally hydo gen is not that labour intensive.
I think we should diversify our energy sources and invest in other renewable sources of energy like Solar Energy. A given example is what the South Africans are undertaking in the Northern Cape; building the World’s largest Solar Plant that investment will not only reduce carbon emissions BUT will create jobs and also generate one-tenth of the country’s energy needs into the National Grid.
I do not think Solar plants are as costly to construct as Hydro-electric dams.