Power Utility firm Zesco and RNT of Angola have signed an Inter-Utility Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Zambia-Angola grid interconnecting transmission lines that will facilitate power trading between the two countries and the region.
The signing ceremony took place today, 28th February 2020 at the Ministry of Energy Head Office in Lusaka.
The proposed grid interconnector is aimed at improving the reliability and security of supply between the two countries as it will enhance the sharing of power generation infrastructure resulting in more investments and economic growth.
Zesco Limited Managing Director Victor Mundende said that the signing of the IUMoU marked yet another important milestone in ZESCO’s quest of realizing its vision of becoming the ‘Hub of electricity trading in the region by 2025’.
”If we are going to be the hub of electricity trading in the region by the year 2025, then the need for the development of interlinking transmission lines, which form the network of regional
interconnectivity, cannot be overemphasized”, he said.
Mr Mundende said the scope of the project include the connection of the eastern districts of Angola to the Zambian grid and the extension of the Zambian grid into the Angolan grid thereby promoting mutual social-economic development through enhanced electricity trading between the two countries and in the region.
He assured the ministers of energy for both Angola and Zambia of the two utilities’ resolve to complete the feasibility studies for the interconnection lines and quickly progress into project implementation.
Mr Munded stressed that ZESCO and RNT would set up technical teams to realize the project.
So electricity will be flowing into Angola from Zambia and not the other way round
From the way I have understood it power will be flowing from Zambia into Angola and vice-versa. So what’s the point of this MOU? Let each country supply its own people with power. If it will help end loadshedding it’s fine. But with this government I do not trust any decision they make
In the past decade, energy consumption in Angola has skyrocketed, with an annual growth rate of more than 15 percent due to higher living standards, govt efforts to expand electricity coverage and an increase in available generation capacity. Consumption remains most concentrated in the northern region, which contains the province and city of Luanda and the highest density of industries, services, and inhabitants. Until 2025, demand is expected to grow at a substantial rate, with the overall system load reaching 7,200 MW – more than four times the current level – and average consumption per capita is expected to grow to 1,230 kilowatt hours (kWh). This is closely linked with the country’s plans for industrialization.( Africa& Power, 2018)
From the above you can see what is happening here and why ZESCO and PF are taking advantage of load-shedding…the more it is there the more they assume there is opportunity for them to make extra money from power export instead of sorting out the underlining issues.
Ba ZESCO how do you start planning to sell electricity to Angola when we still have loadshedding at home?
In my opinion this is great and is how African countries should work…..
The pan African rail network should also be a priority…
While you are interconnecting the transmission grids, be mindfull of cyber attacks that could affect the whole inter connected grid….
Please do it efficiently and not the PF way of tulyepo and nichekeleko. Anyway this is a national project and not PF and Mundende and his backers will not last forever, not later than 2021 in fact, or even earlier.