THE Government has approved the construction of solar farms to produce electricity using solar energy which will be connected to the national electricity grid as a way of addressing Zambia's electricity deficit.

Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary George Zulu said the Government had tasked Zesco to facilitate the construction of solar farms under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement to help Zambia attain the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) on access to energy as a way of reducing the high levels of poverty in developing countries.

Mr Zulu said Zesco was tasked with overseeing the BOT, a type of arrangement in which the private sector builds an infrastructure, operates it and eventually transfers ownership of the project to the Government.

"Some adverts have been published in the media calling the solar energy electricity producing firm to offer their services and the suitable firms will be selected to construct solar farms after following all the tender procedures," he said.

The permanent secretary said the Government was determined to see to it that many Zambians had access to electricity which is used as a source of lighting and energy.