‘Zambia aims to be power hub’

SIMON MUNTEMBA writes@SunZambianZAMBIA will be the hub of electricity trading in the Southern region by 2025, ZESCO Limited managing director Victor Mundende has said.Mr Mundende said it was the management’s ambition to continue transforming ZESCO Limited into a high performance organization that would extend its tentacles into the region.Mr Mundende said this in Chikankata District yesterday when he officially flagged off the filling of the reservoir for the 750MW Kafue Gorge Lower (KGL) Hydropower Plant.He said the KGL was part of a series of cascaded hydroelectric power plants on the Kafue River.He said once in operation, KGL alone would have five generating units with a capacity of150MW each.He said the 750 mw KGL would be the third largest power station in Zambia after Kariba North Bank at 1,080mw and Kafue George Upper 990mw, which would increase the country’s installed capacity about 3,600 mw against the projected peak demand of 2,300 wm.Mr Mundende said the path to sustainability of power generation to meet demand of Zambia was clear.“With the additional of KGL, we are on course to achieving our vision of being the hub of electricity trading in the region by 2025,” Mr Mundende said.Mr Mundende further said he was convinced ZESCO Limited would meet the current power needs of the country by ensuring a sustainable development path.“We remain committed to providing safe and reliable electricity for all whilst making it easy for people to live a better life,” he said.Meanwhile, KGL project director Wesley Lwiindi said preventive measures have been put in place to ensure no drowning was recorded during the water impounding process. The Sun