Zambia a net exporter of electricity

Zambia declares 1,156 MW power generation surplus

LUSAKA, July 19 (Xinhua) — Zambia has achieved an electricity generation surplus of about 1,156 MW in electricity generation following construction of a new power plant, its power utility said on Tuesday.

State-run Zesco Limited said the commissioning of four by 150 megawatts capacity from the Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station has resulted in increased power generation with national generation capacity currently standing at 3, 456.8 megawatts against a peak national demand of about 2,300 MW.

Victor Mapani, the power utility’s managing director, said four out of five units at the power plant have been commissioned and were currently running.

“We expect to commission the last 150 megawatts machine, unit 5 by November this year,” he said during a high-level panel discussion at the ongoing Association of Power Utilities meeting in Dakar, Senegal, according to a release.

He said the country currently has a surplus of 1,156.8 MW that was available for trade within the interconnected power network in the southern African region.

According to him, the availability of reliable electricity was underpinning the current rebound of the country’s economy.

He further said the power utility was undertaking the construction of transmission lines to ensure that it remains at the center of power trading in the region.