ZESCO has completed the refurbishing and uprating of generator number four at Kariba North Bank Power Station which has added 180 megawatts (MW) electricity generating capacity, hugely easing load-shedding.

The additional 180Mw from Kariba North Bank Power Station has reduced the national daily deficit that was initially at 250Mw to about 70Mw.

This is according to a statement by the Zesco public relations department.

"Out of the current projected national demand of 1700mw, Zesco has now the capacity to generate enough power through the available machines at Kafue Gorge, Kariba North Bank and Victoria Falls Hydro-Power Station to meet the demand," partly reads the statement.

This means, therefore, that load-shedding as a result of insufficient power generation capacity is expected to reduce significantly.

"However, we would like to make an appeal to our customers on the need to conserve energy by switching off appliances and equipment that they are not using."

Other mid-term projects aimed at enhancing generation capacity to cushion the increasing demand for power would include the Kariba North Bank Extension Power Station earmarked to be commissioned by late 2013.

This will add 360Mw to the current electricity generation capacity in the country.

The other one is the Itezhi-Tezhi Hydro-power Station which is planned to be commissioned by late 2015 and will add another 120Mw power generation.

For several months, Zesco customers have been subjected to power outages as a result of the 250Mw power generation deficit.

However, since last weekend, several parts of Lusaka, for instance, have not experienced the regular interruption in power supply.