Go for new energy options, farmers urged

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:22:43 +0000

By SANDRA MACHIMA

COMMERCIAL farmers and other adversely affected electricity consumers have been advised to consider various energy options and invest in alternative energy which is more efficient and cheaper, says energy expert Johnstone Chikwanda.

Mr Chikwanda observed that most electricity consumers had up to now not taken significant measures to diversify their energy sources.

He reiterated that the nation was forewarned last year when the Minister of Finance Felix Mutati issued a ministerial statement in Parliament that Government would by the end of 2017 migrate to cost reflective electricity tariffs. Mr Chikwanda said although concerns raised by farmers regarding the escalated electricity tariffs and requested for consideration for special tariff and a subsidy was genuine, it was not advisable for Government to extend a special tariff to them as that would slide back into consumptive subsidies.

President Edgar Lungu was recently in Mkushi district where he addressed the farming community, and farmers raised concerns regarding the escalated electricity tariffs and requested for consideration for special tariff and a subsidy.

“Although the request from farmers for a special electricity tariff is genuine and similar to the one made by millers, it is not advisable for Government to extend a special tariff to them as this will mean sliding back in consumptive subsidies.   ‘‘This goes to confirm that the ‘bane’ for this sluggish migration has been due to decades of over-dependence on one form of energy and one supplier,” he said.   Mr Chikwanda said it would be cheaper for farmers to invest in solar energy, saying that might mean installing their own solar energy to fully or partially support their operations.

He said Government had already waived import duty on renewable energy components with a view to making electricity production cheaper in a bid to support renewable energy efforts.

“And with improved battery storage facilities, farmers and other commercial entities can install solar and battery energy combination and stay completely away from expensive ZESCO electricity except in emergencies,” he said.

Mr Chikwanda said the commercial farming block in Mkushi and any other parts of Zambia could make their own electricity from bio-mass.

“It is not just solar energy service providers who can assist placate the impact of new electricity tariffs but ZESCO, CEC and other traditional electricity service providers can diversity into solar power rental options for some of their clients on case by case basis,” he said.