Energy forum unhappy with attacks on Lungu over power export

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Lunsemfwa Hydro Power
Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company, Zambia

The Energy Forum-Zambia has expressed sadness at the heightening attacks on President Edgar Lungu from some section of society over the proposed electricity connectivity of a ZESCO power line from Pensulo area in Serenje district to North east of Mozambique.

 
During President Lungu’s bilateral talks with his Mozambican counterpart President Filipe Nyusi last week, the issue of the potential export of electricity to Mozambique was among the topics discussed.

 

Forum chairperson Johnstone Chikwanda said Zambians must be aware that ZESCO has had a history of exporting electricity to some countries in the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) during off peak hours.
Mr. Chikwanda said countries in the southern region export excess electricity to one another during off peak hours in order to mitigate the energy poverty the region is experiencing.

 

He added that it would be imprudent not to sell any excess power at a premium to anyone who wants it.
He has since encouraged Zambians to migrate to energy saving products and understand that currently, there is load shedding in Africa including in more developed countries such as South Africa.

 

Mr. Chikwanda said the forum supports government’s efforts to seize electricity export opportunities as and when there is capacity to do so.
He has however expressed sadness that Zambia has not effectively used the energy sector in the last 50 years.

 

He pointed out that if the country had effectively used the energy sector, it could have been a leading exporter of electricity due its hydropower generation arbitrage.

 

Mr. Chikwanda has further appealed to the government to continue with efforts aimed at improving the energy mix so that the economy depends less on hydro power generation.
ZANIS

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