The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has attributed the increased load shedding currently being experienced in the country to a power generation deficit of 250 Mega Watts.
Company Acting Managing Director, Victor Mundende, says the deficit has been caused by increased mining, industrial and agricultural investments.
Mr. Mundende says despite this increase, there has been delayed investment in the company’s transmission distribution systems.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Mundende said this at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
He has also cited hydraulic limitations and rehabilitation works as some of the causes of the deficit in generation from the company’s power stations.
He said load shedding management is being carried out to protect the generation equipment, which would automatically shut down should there be an overload, a situation he says would be costly.
Mr. Mundende also stated that ZESCO has put in place short and long term mitigation plans such as the installation and upgrade of substations and transformers.
And Mr. Mundende has disclosed that the current voltage profile of the company in the Northern and Luapula provinces is not good.
He says the profile is expected to improve with the commissioning of the 180 Mega Watts generator at Kariba North Bank and the 50 Mega Watts from Ndola Energy, increasing the overall generation to 1, 835 MW, as compared to the current 1, 605MW being generated.
He has also disclosed that the company’s immediate and long term projects amount to a total of over US$5 billion, part of which has already been sourced.
Mr. Mundende said other mitigation measures to improve delivery include the distribution of energy saver lamps, on which the company has so far spent over US$1 million .
He has further dispelled assertions that the lamps are harmful to human life, saying they are merely a compact version of florescent tubes that are currently used widely.
He says the lamps have a very low content of mercury that is relatively harmless because it is used up as the lamp expires.
ZESCO sure, Zambia is such a small country but you can’t provide power for such a small population! Kwena, everyday blackout?! Blackout.
ZESCO pull up your socks, as you receive more cash due to the increased industrial activities so increase even voltage. It seems you guys do nothing at ZESCO, you just know how to chew free money at that parastatal. we are tired of lackouts.
Increased economic activity? That is the legacy of the last govt! Beat that you tribal fundamentalist pf!
Excuse after excuse, ati “delayed investment in the company’s transmission distribution system; hydraulic limitations; rehabilitation works” my foot. Just admit the company lacks a feasible long-term plan for improving electricity supply to local consumers. Three times this week alone Parklands – Kitwe has had blackouts!!! ZESCO, get your act together and provide us with quality service.
Why is the load shedding selective?
The problem is incompetency and luck of planning by all those involved including the MMD Govt. Like any parastatal company in Zambia, mismanagement, re-directing of finances (in political parties and other Govt wing) all at the expense of investment. Look at Zamtel, DBZ etc. The word investment seems to be synonymous with foreigners only and everyone overlooks the simple fact that a company of Zesco’s dominance should generate enough resources to be able to plan for long term investment as the country develops. Where were Zesco management and board when mining licences where being awarded? They were busy sourcing low energy bulbs as a way syphoning $s out of the company
You are just incompetent and must admit it. we are basically loadshedded every day and to crown it all you put us on fixed billing! *****s this is what happens when there is monopoly! For now am full genset and solar power U r not getting a single ngwee from me. come and get your stupid poles even!Â
Fhuk u ZESCO! You make life a living hell! Its a pity our people just keep quiet and take this noncence if this was another country people would have long been at your offices! We should also engage other investors to bring another electical company to give zesco a run for their money! Disappointed
Rubbish! Why are you trying to give what you don’t have?
If you can’t generate more power, claw back some of it from the exports to other countries so that the social and economic developments of Zambia do not suffer. Put Zambia first. You are Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Ltd, and NOT Global, Continental or Regional Electricity Supply Corporation Ltd.
This is unacceptable failure of lack of foresight, inadequate infrastructure (underfunded) and a contribution of mismanagement. Poor Zambia. You see this all boils down to politicians having had noooooo vision to develop Zambia whatsoever. They were more interested in accumulating wealth for themselves. Bloooody Kawalalas!!!>>>>
>>>> Â Zambia is so “underdeveloped”….. behind with the times…. with the majority having no access to electricity ….. and yet theres load shedding! C’mon now!! Â Now what about security for citizens? Lets hope this doesn’t have a knock on effect on businesses, hospitals… one day for having visionless leaders. Time to grow up Zambia. State House turn off your lights!!>>>>
I was talking to my mum, who is in Lusaka, the other day and she told me that they don’t even watch the main news at 7pm anymore. How can you live in a world where you don’t know what’s going on around you eh? Zesco needs to be disbanded and buried. Chapwa ah!
Someone on galu..’s site said ati shopping malls is development. How many are there? And for how many people is that luxury available to? There should be hundreds of shopping malls throughout Zambia to say yes we are developing and creating jobs for people. Ridiculous!!!! Poor Zambia, slow in thinking. When will you start to think big.Â
Go to hell ZESCO busy stealing pipo monies yet you give other countries what wrong with thus old guys kanshi
I remeber Sata promising  that when in power, there would be no black outs. How was he planing to do it? The power cuts are worse than ever.
Ok so load shedding is here to sray. What a shame.
I AGREE ALL ZESCO MANAGEMENT JUST LIKE THEIR LUSAKA WATER AND SEWERAGE TEAM SHOULD BE SHOWN THE DOORS, THEY SIMPLY DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THE REASONS GIVEN ABOVE ARE TRASH, THEY CAN’T PLAN!!!, THEY ONLY PLA FOR THEIR SALARY INCREAMENTS, THATS THE TREND IN ZAMBIA.
Most Zesco engineers are paid for the paper, not for the work they do. I understand that most engineers say we’re educated. Education has nothing to do with production. Very few engineers in Zesco produce results. The majority of educated engineers in Zesco are unproductive or just semi skilled. Just about 1/12 of Zesco engineers are doing engineering jobs, no wonder load shedding is in full force (Zesco has over employed engineers). The previous governments have contributed towards the fall of ZESCO save KK’s Government which invested heavly in electricity industry. The acting MD should keep quite. The growth of the industries can not be an excuse. Next time the MD yaps unrealist excuses we shall expose his incompetency in managing total resources within Zesco.
This is not new to us who stay/live in the Lusaka compounds. Load shedding is there all the time even without notice! I always wonder if this load shedding is only targeted us who don’t pay gold money! I always have a chat with friends who have been lucky to secure accommodation in places like Woodlands, Kabulonga, New Kasama and the like. With them load shedding is something that is just a joke because power interruption is only for about five minutes and that happens after many weeks if not months. Now I question myself if load shedding is only targeted at some quarters only. Listening to ZNBC TV news at 1900hours every day is now luxury!
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