LUSAKA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said Thursday that it has negotiated the importation of more electricity from South Africa and Zimbabwe to cushion the current power deficit.
Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote said Zesco Limited, the national utility, has negotiated the procurement of 218 megawatts of power from South Africa's Eskom and the Zimbabwe Power Company.
"The electricity procured from the two companies is expected to be injected into the grid within the month of August 2024," he said during an update press briefing on the current energy situation in the country.
The new import will add to the 409 megawatts the country has been importing from neighboring countries.
He added that Zesco has reached an advanced stage in the procurement of generators to be installed at designated locations across the country.
He disclosed the sites have already been identified which include institutions such as hospitals and schools, critical business areas, and markets, noting that the first 12 megawatts shall be secured in August 2024.
Meanwhile, the minister said the Cabinet has approved the inclusion of more items to the tax exemption bracket for solar equipment as part of measures to encourage investment in alternative energy sources. He said the move is meant to ensure a seamless and efficient importation of essential items into the country to address the energy challenges.
According to him, as of July 31, the national peak demand for electricity stood at 2,400 megawatts while the available power generation was only 1,040 megawatts, leaving a deficit of 1,360 megawatts.
Zambia is facing an energy crisis caused by low water levels in its hydropower plants due to the drought experienced in the 2023/2024 season.
The situation has forced Zambia to introduce a rotational power cuts program.
