20 July 2004
THE Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has blamed the intermittent power interruptions across Zambia on rehabilitation works being carried out at Kariba North Bank, Kafue Gorge and the Victoria Falls power generating stations.
ZESCO acting managing director Musonda Chibulu said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the company was trying to replace its derelict machinery that was more than 40 years old.
The company has invested US$250 million in the rehabilitation project.
Mr Chibulu said after the rehabilitation works the company had not been using all the machinery at its main stations in Kafue and Kariba.
He said ZESCO was currently importing power at a cost of between $400,000 and $500,000 a month from South Africa to bridge the gap of electricity during this period.
He said once the rehabilitation at Kariba North Bank was completed the station would produce 990 MegaWatts of electricity from the previous 900.
"Similarly the Kariba North Bank will produce 720 MegaWatts from the previous 600. This situation will improve the power supply for the country which has seen a major growth in demand," Mr Chibulu said.
He said power supply throughout Zambia would improve once the rehabilitation was finished.
The power failures had also been triggered by the cold season which was at its peak and the situation was expected to normalise in August.
"Vandalism has also contributed to these power interruption where the company loses colossal amount of money on monthly basis," he said.
He said the exercise had not affected the electrification of other parts of the country.
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