Sun, 02 Apr 2017 11:46:04 +0000
By SANDRA MACHIMA
GOVERNMENT deserves commendation for initiating the Batoka hydro-power project which is a positive investment, says energy expert Johnstone Chikwanda
Mr Chikwanda said it was not easy to attract the right type of investors willing and ready to support such a project especially with Zambia’s low electricity tariffs.
He said low power tariffs had hampered investors into development of electricity infrastructure for a very long time.
Mr Chikwanda commended the government for attaching significant political will to the development of the energy sector aimed at making Zambia a net exporter of electricity in few years’ time.
He noted that if new proposed tariffs were approved by Energy Regulation Board (ERB), it would support not only Batoka Power Project and other sector investments but also reduce pressure on the treasury.
“Energy Forum Zambia wishes to commend governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe for successfully hosting an investors’ road show for the Batoka Gorge Hydro-electric Power Project in Livingstone, Zambia.
“The organisation and presentations were not only next to none but various presenters including cabinet ministers were exemplary and demonstrated good command of the task at hand,” he said.
Mr Chikwanda said conducting an international investment road show at this level was not a small and easy undertaking.
“It is not easy to attract the right type of investors who are willing and ready especially that it has not been in dispute that Zambia’s low electricity tariffs have hampered the attraction and development of electricity power infrastructure for a very long time,” he said.
He encouraged government to continue working tirelessly to ensure that more and more households have access to clean and affordable energy.
“While it is appreciated to have excess electricity, it is equality critical to ensure household connectivity to both grid and off-grid infrastructure.
Mr Chikwanda reminded government not to just focus on the southern circuit for electricity generation but to diversify to the north as a way of mitigating the risk of regional rainfall pattern and ground hydrology.
He called on government to expedite the establishment and operationalization of the Luapula River Authority (LRA) with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) so that the Luapula River could host the much-talked about hydro power plant.
