The Zambia Sugar Plc says it pays K24 billion of electricity bills to the Zesco annually for its irrigation plant.
Company Water Distribution Engineer, Sudan Mulebwente, said irrigation is the biggest consumer of electricity at Zambia Sugar.
Mr Mulebwente said the company utilizes about 22 megawatts of power on its irrigation plants.
He was speaking when delegates from the Afro-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) led by Indian Ambassador to Zambia, Ashok Kumar and some senior government officials from the ministry of Youth and Sport, toured the plant in Mazabuka yesterday.
And estate manager, Joseph Silungwe said the company targets to crash all cane on its 14, 200 hectares of land this year.
Mr Silungwe said this will amount to about 3.2 million tonnes of cane crashed this year.
He also disclosed that the company plans to grow 412, 000 hectares of sugar this year, saying currently the company was moving in the right direction in reaching its targets.
The AARDO delegates were in the country for the 63rdconference and also took time to sample the seventh wonder of the world, the Victoria Falls, in order to have a feel of the country’s tourism potential.
The conference drew participation from countries such as Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Ghana, and the host, country Zambia, among others.
ZANIS
Nomba ninshi???
24 billion a year. that’s 2 billion a month. well it’s normal for a big company like nakambala. not surprised. what would be news would be if nakambala has found new energy serving methods that have reduced the energy usage by atleast 30% and yet production still increased
This year all that will be absorbed by the K36 billion they have to pay GBM for poles.
Hi Rob,The cane fields are sialimr to the ones in Negros, but the harvesters in Negros bring the cane to the road with carabao instead of using these old army trucks.The PNOC geothermal plants are a true wonder. The area is restricted, so casual tourists will not be allowed up the canyon road where the plants are located. There is a military base up there because it’s a matter of national security the plant provides power for a large area.There is a some spectacular scenery up there waterfalls, raging rivers, wildlife (tarsiers and monkeys) etc. I think that Dave could get you up there if you asked him. He has contracted some work up there over the years and has the connections you will need.Lake Danao is not in that area but is worth a visit too.cheersdp
POOR PUBLIC RELATIONS, Z/SUGAR IS DOING VERY LITTLE FOR THE LOCALS. PEOPLE NEED TO SEE WHERE THE HARD WORKING CANECUTTERS STAY, VERY FILTHY. PF GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE INTEREST IN SUCH MATTERS.
This must be the only country where domestic consumers pay more than industrial consumers effectively subsidizing them. Read the cost of service study conducted by ERB. Historically the mines were so powerful that the only way ZESCO could get additional revenue was by charging the domestic consumers more. This is why even companies like Zambia Sugar Company that have the raw materials such as bagasse (the sugar cane that remains after sugar extraction) to generate electricity find it cheaper to use ZESCO generated electricity. In Mauritius sugar companies generate their own electricity and feed the surplus to the local network.It is morally right for the consumer to pay less than industry as a way of benefitting in the exploitation of our diminishing natural resouces.
you ought to pay more than that!!
Production per year – 330,000 tons
@ $900- $297,000,000.
Electricity cost K24 billion / 5 pin – $4,800,000.
In term of percentage electricity costs only 1.6% of gross income.
And how well do you look after your employees? How about a photo of their quarters?