ZESCO Limited Managing Director Victor Mapani has called on Africa to be front runners in new technological trends as he officiates at the 20th Congress of the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) in Dakar, Senegal.
In his capacity as immediate past President of the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) Eng. Mapani said power utilities in Africa need to be front runners in new technological trends such as the emerging Electric Motor Vehicle industry to reduce huge transportation costs and also cut carbon emissions.
Eng. Mapani at the weekend handed over the Presidency of APUA to Managing Director of Senelec Eng. Papa Mademba Biteye with a clarion call on the Continent’s power utilities to remain focused on increasing the electrification rate of Africa from the current 24 percent to at least 40 percent by 2025.
ZESCO on behalf of Zambia assumed the Presidency of APUA during the 19th Congress which took place in Livingstone in Zambia in 2017.
The Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA), formerly known as the Union of Producers and Distributors of Electricity in Africa (UPDEA), was established in 1970 with its headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Association aims to promote the development and integration of the African electricity sector through active cooperation among its members on the one hand and with all stakeholders in the international electricity sector and donors on the other.
“We ought to explore and be front runners in new technological trends such as the emerging Electric Motor Vehicle industry to reduce the huge transportation cost burden on our customers and also minimize the carbon footprint associated with fossil fuels in mitigating climate change conditions,” Eng. Mapani said in a speech at a ceremony in Dakar, Senegal.
Eng. Mapani said Africa needs to move in tandem with the rest of the world in increasing the electrification rate to ensure its people have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
“As I humbly vacate this seat, I wish to extend to the incoming President the vital opportunities to exploit in the medium to long term: APUA should take centre-stage in increasing the electrification rate of Africa from the current 24 percent to at least 40 percent in the next three years to match with the rest of the developing world. Between the years 2025 to 2030, we should then aim to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all in line with Sustainable Development Goal Number seven,” he said.
The Zesco Limited Managing Director said there is a need to mobilize financing targeted towards establishing firm interconnections between Utility Networks to promote regional power trading, wheeling and provision of electricity path for emergency support.
The principle of African Single Electricity Market was launched by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in the presence of the European Union Energy Commissioner in June 2021.
He said APUA needs to take lead in assisting in mobilizing financing targeted towards establishing firm interconnections between Utility Networks to promote regional power trading, wheeling and provision of electricity path for emergency support.
“We all need to build and harness the identified potential hydroelectric power generation sites emanating from various technical and environmental feasibility studies in our respective countries that will support the anticipated increased power demand as we expand our electrification rate as well as guarantee firm and reliable interconnections that can withstand system disturbances without collapse,” said Eng. Mapani.
Eng. Mapani added that the abundance of solar irradiation in Africa also accords power utilities in Africa a very good opportunity to foster and develop the renewable energy mix which will in turn increase electricity generation capacity in Africa.
About APUA: The Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) is an international non-governmental association formed in 1970 with its headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
APUA has 56 active members in 46 African countries, 20 affiliate members and some associate and observer members in Africa and Europe.
“……APUA has 56 active members in 46 African countries, 20 affiliate members and some associate and observer members in Africa and Europe…..”
They are all mere observers………..
What do they do , what have they done in the past ??
Zesco and new technology? They can’t even connect new users after TWO years waiting
Please sort out those UNIP era transformers which are prone to theft. Light up our towns and cities first before you even think of electric cars.
Mr. Mapani is an appointee whose tenure of Office is embedded to the political life-span of the UPND Govt. His overzealous dismissal of many un-political Zesco technologists reveals his loyalty to UPND. Mapani’s revelation that “Zambia has achieved an electricity generation surplus of 1,156 Megawatts” merely means that previous Govts invested wisely in the development of hydroelectric power plants – for which UPND mocked ECL. Zambians expect a current Govt to develop power stations at Batoka – with Zimbabwe, on the Luapula River – with Congo DR and along Kalungwishi River. Additional power stations will make Zambia a net exporter of electricity in the region.
This is the result of the foresight of the former PF government. It realized there was a power deficit due to increased demand from industry and households. Therefore, PF borrowed and invested heavily in increased power generation capacity. ZESCO MD Mapani and UPND praise-singers may not want to acknowledge this, but nkani izibika. Let us see now how UPND will use PPP to increase further on the country’s power generation capacity through further investment in renewable energy. For doubters of PF’s massive investment in power generation capacity, let them be reminded that at the time PF got into power in 2011, Zambia’s power generation capacity stood at 1, 200 MW. Today it is standing at 3,456.8 MW. The idea behind the PF investment in increased power generation capacity was to use the…
Not only is the PF investment in increased power generation capacity turning out to be a success story. So, is the PF investment in NHIMA. There are stories of Zambians praising NHIMA for increased access to health care by even the most vulnerable of Zambians. Zambians need to be celebrating such success stories and PF in opposition should up their game, beat their drum and remind Zambians and the UPND in government that they had foresight when they invested in NHIMA and increased power generation capacity.