Government will spend K700 billion to connect four districts to the national grid in the North-western province.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister, Richard Musukwa, said in parliament today that government is scouting for the funds and the project will commence when the money is made available.
Mr Musukwa, who is also PF Wasakile Member of Parliament, said Chavuma, Kabompo, Mufumbwe and Zambezi districts that are earmarked for upgrading from thermal to the national grid.
Mr Musukwa said Zesco would spend K1.8 billion on fuel and labour and save K20 billion on an annual basis.
The Deputy Minister was responding to a question by MMD Kabompo East MP, Danny Chingimbu, who wanted to find out when government will connect Chavuma, Kabompo, Mufumbwe and Zambezi district to the national grid; what the estimated cost of the project is; how much money per month is spent on the operation of the thermal generation of power in each district and how much money will be saved, per month, once the four districts are connected to the national grid.
And responding to supplementary questions from members of the house, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga, reiterated Government’s commitment to electrifying rural districts currently being supplied by thermal generation.
Mr Mukanga disclosed that the Rural Electrification Authority in May this year signed different agreements with the German Government in a bid to improve electricity in the country.
Mr Mukanga, who is also PF Kantanshi MP, added that Government is looking at other options of increasing electricity by 1.5 mega watts from some named water falls North-western Province is endowed with.
The minister named Chavuma Jimbe, Kalene, and Kasajiku which will benefit from the project.
ZANIS
How can they spend such amounts of money when ZESCO cannot meet the nations demand?It makes more sense if these comedians worked on improving the power output onto the national grid system than this nonsense of connecting north western to the power grid which is already failing to meet demand.
This govt will they ever stop promising. The four years count down is now on. We have so far done a year. I know this is all to hoodwink the mufumwe voters. But this is bad politics.
With the increase of mining and construction activities in this region it is obvious that the area should be connected to the National Grid…..I highly doubt it if ZESCO even makes a profit from these outdated thermal electricity generation. Its high time more sustainable innovative sources of electricity generation like Solar where encouraged; the timing of such announcements though is questionable give that there is a by-election around the corner.
I’m surprised that the Gov’t. is “scouting” for funds when it should have budgeted for this copper-rich region. ZANIS headline is misleading as the gov’t hasn’t got the funds yet!
Please connect us to the national national grid.
The deputy Minister is less qualified to issue such a policy statement…. Can the FULL Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga, please give us a more comprehensive statement on how the  GOVT intends to develop the hydro-power stations at Chavuma falls, Jimbe falls, Kalene falls, and Kasajiku falls and which one is first or it gonna be a simultaneous undertaking in view of the Eurobond and  German Government bid to improve electricity in the country  and to this this copper-rich region of ours
With North-Western let us be serious.The RB goverment started bush clearing but the cleared bush is soon becoming a forest but nothing is happening now.We thought funds were already available but yet you say still scounting for funds.Let us be serious country men and women.
Jesus said the stone which was once rejected by the buliders become the corner stone.we are watching the pace.
Ai no boza che iyi. Unless they want to connect NW to the DRC grid?