THE Government has identified 1,270 electricity growth centres in different parts of the country, which will be connected to stand-alone power grids to speed up the electrification of rural areas, Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Peter Mumba has said.

Mr Mumba said in Ndola that the newly-identified centres would be supplied with electricity using alternative energy sources apart from hydro electricity and diesel generated electricity.

The development would be under the new Rural Electrification Master Plan.

Mr Mumba, who addressed journalists during a tour of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) funded pilot biomass electricity power sub-station, said the new electricity growth centres, which were expected to cover large areas would not be connected to the national power grid.

"We hope to see the use of alternative electricity generation initiatives such as the use of biomass during the implementation of the rural electrification master plan which is expected to be officially launched soon. Government is ready to adopt the new ways of power generation as long as they are reliable and efficient," he said.

Mr Mumba said once the Ndola biomass power station which has a capacity to produce 25 kilowatts of electricity everyday proved to be sustainable and efficient, the funds to have the project replicated in different parts of Zambia on a much larger scale would be made available. These funds had already been sourced.

Shiwang'andu, Samfya, Mpika and Kaputa are among the areas which had been identified to be used as new areas to have their electricity generated through the use of alternative electricity sources.

Biomass generated power is produced using the burning of sawmill, forestry and farm plants residues in producing gas which powers an engine and powers electricity generating turbines.

Zambia is the first country in Africa to use the technology and is regarded as one of the most environmental-friendly technologies in electricity generation.

UNIDO director of energy, Pradeep Monga said his organisation had financed the establishment of biomass power stations in Zambia at a cost of US$ 10 million.

Mr Monga said the public use of biomass-generated electricity in Zambia was expected to start by June next year in order to facilitate for capacity building and technology transfer.

He appealed to the private sector in Zambia to partner with Zesco and invest in the biomass electricity production sector.'

Mr Monga said once the Ndola biomass pilot project, which is housed at the Zesco Northern Division Training Centre in Ndola proved successful, new biomass power stations would be established in Mpika, Samfya and Kaputa areas.