Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa has announced that the importation of Power from South Africa and Mozambique will commence in the next two weeks following President Edgar Lungu’s directive for him to expedite the importation of power.
Mr Nkhuwa said he has since directed Zesco to expedite the process of signing contracts with Eskom of South Africa and EDM of Mozambique to commence the power imports.
Speaking at a media briefing, Mr Nkhuwa announced that he was last week in Mozambique to negotiate a power purchase agreement with EDM who has agreed to export 100 megawatts of Power to Zambia.
Mr Nkhuwa said the Government will tomorrow pay US$10 million to Eskom with another US$30 million to meet the US$30 million they requested for to commence power exports to Zambia.
President Edgar Lungu yesterday directed the Minister of Energy Mathews Nkhuwa to expedite the importation of electricity in order to cushion the power deficit that the nation is grappling with.
President Lungu said it is anticipated that the imported electricity will boost supply not only among the farming communities but other sectors of the economy.
The Head of State was speaking in Lusaka when he officiated at the 114th Zambia National Farmers Union Annual Congress.
And this is a minister….?
“Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa has announced that the importation of Power from South Africa and Mozambique will commence in the next two weeks following President Edgar Lungu’s directive for him to expedite the importation of power.”
What a waste of oxygen
waste of energy indeed!
I LIKE WASTE CASE SCENARIO Thinkerz –
A worst-case scenario is a concept in risk management wherein the planner, in planning for potential disasters, considers the most severe possible outcome that can reasonably be projected to occur in a given situation. Conceiving of worst-case scenarios is a common form of strategic planning, specifically scenario planning, to prepare for and minimize contingencies that could result in accidents, quality problems, or other issues.
That said, it’s to much money going to import power. As we struggle, kindly put that money into Power Investment (Installation) projects. We can only expedite installation of power plants than denying a possible waste case scenario vis no adequate rains even next season. Japan is surrounded by water but…
… but chose the Nuke Power.
Waiting for the rains to fill up Kariba Dam is disastrous believe me.
Typo error. Chizungu chivuta.
WORST CASE SCENARIO not waste case scenario pilizi.
Does this goverrnment EVER hold cabinet meetings to discuss and analyse issues and come to a consensus? All we here is Lungu has directed this, lungu has directed that. No order at all. The ministers are having a field day because the lazy man tries to prove his relevance.
These are things that should come as proposals to cabinet. The options tabled and discussed. Then decisions made, considering various factors that will be affected. This is chaos. Here is a man who doesnt the know first thing about being president trying to prove that he is in charge. Being in charge has little to do with issuing statements every week. Lord why did you take Levy from us? You have left us with thieving, corrupt incompetent thugs with there hungry minions that know nothing about doing an honest day’s…
south African has it’s own load shedding ..whatever all this mess is called, but they are no better off than Zambia. how’s their govnt gonna justify exporting that which they have in short supply for it’s own people?
I don’t see this happening… something fishy
you wait for the stories when no changes are made to the Zambian load shedding mess even after money has been spent
Another parasite blowing hot air. SA export electricity to Sh!thole Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, Namibia, Lesotho, sh!thole Zimbabwe. SA is 97% electrified. Actually they export their electricity to power their business in all charity case countries.
You are not informed.
That’s the trouble with Mr Chagwa’s dysfunctional misadministration!
Did you have to issue a public pronouncement?
What if South Africans hear you and protest against Eskom exporting power to you when SA is now facing unforeseen deficits necessitating Stage 2 loadshedding?
It may be too late to get the 300MW you wanted. You wasted time talking instead of taking action, even letting the cat out of the bag! It’s depressing going round town seeing a lot of businesses in darkness! Abakali tabalanda! Things just happen! Nomba aba kubwabwatafye! Bwafya!
Management by crisis
Kikiki! I am not sure if somewhere here knows what he needs to talk about. Escom has a defifit of power in SA of its own making imwe kuno ati expedite – kuti. Unless Escom has not yet realised that otherwise its a non starter. Its like we have never gotten past our own future – we are still living in the past even after so many years of independence.
What a disaster!!!!
This problem of electricity started in 2018 but the minister have not been doing anything towards power generation extension at kaliba dam. Why not enhancing our own ZESCO by doubling generators where by u put other turbine’s down so that even if water levels becomes lower we will be still having access to the electricity just like the way Luanda did it. Now the problem is, our government knows that this system requires billions of dollars and this
is why we would have invested into this program all moneys that have been used to buy expensive airplane and fire tenders wealthy one million dollars each.
When an 1diot gives an instruction to another !d!ot to carry out a task which will not be carried out anyway.
Us Zambians are learning the hard way
Kikiki! I am not sure if somewhere here knows what he needs to talk about. Eskom has a deficit of power in SA of its own making imwe kuno ati expedite – kuti. Unless Eskom has not yet realised that otherwise its a non starter. Its like we have never gotten past our own future – we are still living in the past even after so many years of independence.
What a disaster!!!!
Mr president you made announcement that Zambia will persual neculear power. But now you talking solar this is confusing.
Incompetent, useless , no vision thieving GRZ ……..
They have messed up the power system in zambia buy no forward planning now lungu and his gang are in the process of selling game parks to mining companies and private investores……..
The future of Zambia is doomed for generations to come ……
I hope this won’t lead to an increase in electricity tariffs & shortage of forex since most of it will go towards fuel importation and now power importation which will lead to a higher exchange rate which again will lead to higher cost of imported power etc etc. It’s a catch 22 situation.
Why not invest that money in solar power and other power alternatives sources. It will be better to endure now thus correcting current situation that was caused by wrong choices in the past. If the investment is not done now then we and future generations will continue paying colossal sums of money for other people’s errors. Let the problem be corrected and not covered temporary to excit people. We should be progressing as a nation, take a look at Rwanda.
Mr. President pride is no game for successful leaders. Heed our plea that dont pay that money to import
power but rather invest in solar plants. A 20MW solar is roughly $15M so in $30 we can built 40MW in $75M will build 100MW. Ba cabinet please reason with the president. As zambians we are ready for black outs upto february or rather till solar plants are done.
Heed the cry of Your pipo not your ego.
Brace for increments in tariffs
I am also shocked. These huge forex figures.
Why not import solar panels. Permanent solution.
I expected that this government would put in place plans that would benefit the nation in the long run. What logic is there in spending that much money just reduced load shedding by Two hours. The ultimate goal is to completely get rid of load shedding.such kind of knee jerk responses to problems only further escalates the problem. Zambia must learn that it does not pay to rush things along just like it was with how Lungu was chosen to lead the PF, no procedure followed, no guidelines respected and a few years down the line see just how bad the decision was and yet rather than learn from those mistakes they still hinder Lungu being opposed at their convention. Same goes for UPND allow those leaders you have be challenged have an open rather than closed policy in leader selections.
Why are African leaders so foolish? So apa filefwaya filyemo. Mxxxm..
You trashed their embassy and their shops and now with the tail between your legs and a begging bowl to the same uneducated, barbaric and uncivilised people.
there you go.
“Mr Lungu directed the Minister of Energy Matthew Nkhuwa to meet him at State House to explain the progress made in the importation of power.
However, plans to import from South Africa have been hampered by demands by the country’s power utility company Eskom for payment of $41m (£31m) as a two-month security deposit, local media report.”
bbc