The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) has declared an end to the long-standing issue of load shedding in the country. In a recent press conference, the Managing Director of ZESCO, Victor Mapani, expressed the good news that Zambian households and businesses will now be able to enjoy a steady supply of electricity, uninterrupted by load-shedding.
“We are proud to announce that Zambia will no longer experience load-shedding,” Mapani said. “Thanks to our efforts in restoring and upgrading our power generation facilities, Zambian households and businesses can now expect a reliable source of 24-hour electricity.”
According to Mapani, the improvements in power generation have come as a result of several initiatives, including the revamp of the Victoria Falls Power Station. Mapani stated, “The Victoria Falls Power Station has been revamped and is currently feeding around 20 Megawatts into the National Grid.” He added that the upgrades at the Kafue Gorge Upper and Lower Power Stations have resulted in an increase of over 150 megawatts in power generation.
The Managing Director also shared that ZESCO has further plans to increase power generation at Lake Kariba from the current 250 megawatts to 350MW. This increase in power generation is expected to be realized due to the recent rise in water levels at the Kariba Dam.
Additionally, the government has plans to import approximately 120 megawatts from Mozambique once negotiations have been successfully completed. Mapani said, “We are committed to ensuring that Zambia has a stable and reliable supply of electricity, and these importations will further strengthen our position.”
Zambia’s neighbor, Namibia, already imports 180 megawatts from Zambia, as NamPower secured additional power supplies from ZESCO. This move is aimed at bridging the electricity gap in Namibia.
