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Zambia: Govt Work on Energy Problems Must Be Explained
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
EDITORIAL
24 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
The story of what the Government is doing to help Zesco work through the country's current electricity supply problems is very important. For more than even the actual blackouts caused by power outages or load shedding, what really resonates negatively with members of the public is utter silence on the matter.
That is why it is good that Energy Minister, Kenneth Konga has been forthright in giving information on the thinking within the Government and Zesco on how to proceed in dealing with the problem.
This is a problem of a magnitude that cannot be tackled effectively by Zesco alone. It is in recognition of this fact that the Government, first, called for the private sector to step in and help. And Tata has indeed stepped in to partner with Zesco to develop the Itezhitezhi power project.
There is room for other private sector corporates to join in the search for a long-term solution to the problem of inadequate electricity supply in the face of growing demand arising from increased economic activity.
Then Zesco, on its own, has also embarked on rehabilitation of some of its power generation equipment, which repairs are expected to also result in upgrading of the facilities. The company also needs the support of the Zambian public in order for it to surmount this current national problem.
But there is also a realisation that Zesco, on its own, is simply not able to marshall the resources needed to resolve power supply problems, or even invest in significant additional power generation capacity. The amounts involved are way beyond the company's capacity to borrow, without Government guarantees.
That is why it is gratifying that the Government seems to have already factored this in and is observing the situation closely to see what avenue should be used.
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Mr Konga says that the Government will consider external borrowing to help boost financial investment in electricit y generation capacity, if the need arises. According to Mr Konga, the Government sees that some of the funds to be raised through the effecting of the new mining tax regime could be used for this purpose.
But if such funds fall short of the requirement to help Zesco resolve the problem of low power generation capacity, then the Government will borrow externally. President Levy Mwanawasa has also already alluded to this when he told a visiting delegation from the International Monetary Fund that some of the conditions placed on developing countries like Zambia should be eased.
Mr Konga should continue feeding the nation with information on this matter. It is a small but vital aspect of helping to tide the nation over this difficult period.
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| Copyright © 2008 The Times of Zambia. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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