Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote says the New Dawn government will strive to give citizens consistent and factual information about the ongoing energy crisis in the country arising from the severe drought situation experienced.
He says the New Dawn government will not provide inaccurate information to depict a favourable but false state of affairs about the energy crisis in the country in order to protect or embellish its image in the political space.
Chikote said this today when he announced the extension of load-shedding hours from 14 to 17 hours effective 1st September, 2024 due to the continued low water levels at Kariba Dam which has resulted in Zesco Limited grappling to generate sufficient power.
“It is a very painful statement to make but we would love to be factual and bring our citizens to understand where we are,” Chikote said.
“I know most of the times we hear from politicians sugarcoating statements and this will not be our stand as New Dawn administration. We will give information as the situation is.”
Meanwhile, Chikote has also revealed that the extension of load-shedding hours has been necessitated by the declined power generation rate compared to the high demand for supply in the country.
“Current energy generation levels during this week has remained at an average of 890 megawatts against a total installed generation capacity of 3777 megawatts,” the minister disclosed.
“The nation’s average pegged demand remained at 2400 megawatts resulting in a power deficit of 1510 megawatts.”
He continued: “Given these factors it is necessary to consider extending the current power rationing hours especially for residential customers. In last week’s update, Zesco did indicate that the average power rationing time was 14 hours per day, therefore the nation is now informed that the official power rationing hours will be extended to 17 hours daily effective 1st September, 2024.”
Chikote further disclosed that government through Zesco had purchased power from South Africa in order to mitigate the power deficit.
“In this regard, the government through Zesco Limited is actively pursuing additional power reboots from the Southern African pool with a view to minimize shocks to productive sectors in the economy such as mining, manufacturing and SMEs,” he said.
“Already, 168 megawatts has been secured from Eskom of South Africa and another 50 megawatts is being negotiated from SAPPP and expected to start flowing by 21st August, 2024.”
He further reassured the nation that the government under leadership of Republican President Hakainde Hichilema has been actively pursuing immediate and long-term solutions to the energy crisis.
