Mr Chris Yaluma minister of Lands, Energy and Water Development of Zambia said that the government was considering developing new hydro power stations in the country in collaboration with the private sector under the Public Private Partnership Program to build on distribution capacity and reduce energy cost.
Mr Yaluma said that with the view in mind, it would not seek to introduce any inhibitive policies in the energy sector and frustrate development but will instead promote PPP initiative to ensure that the energy sector grows in line with the increasing economic activities in the country. This is why we would like to see independent power producers come on board with various projects. There is high demand for energy consumption in the country which should match with supply.
He challenged both local and foreign investors to consider investing in the energy sector to help reduce high cost of energy. It is the government’s desire to move forward and ensure it develops new hydro power stations in the country and investors with viable projects should notify Government to provide guidelines for the kind of project being proposed.
He said that we shall not be prohibitive in the expanding of the energy industry in the country. Government is open to all developmental projects that will contribute positively towards the economic growth of Zambia and investors need to take advantage of the good investment policies to expand the energy sector.
According to government, there are efforts to more than double power generation from the current 1,400 megawatts to meet the increasing demand for energy as the mining sector continues to demand for more. Presently, the mines, especially on the copperbelt region of Zambia consume about 540 MW per day. Recently the government, with help from China sourced for about USD 2 billion to construct another hydro power plant at Kariba which is expected to be operational by 2017.
(Filed by Mr Kapembwa Sinkamba SteelGuru Correspondent Zambia)
No comments:
Post a Comment