Govt says load shedding hours have not reduced

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 11:07:39 +0000

LOAD SHEDDING hours have not reduced because of the mechanical faults being experienced with equipment at Maamba Thermal Power plant, says Energy Minister David Mabumba

In an interview with Daily Nation, Mr Mabumba said that the power deficit had not improved because Mamba Thermal Plant was still facing a challenge to pump power into the national grid continually.

Mr Mabumba said that Maamba Thermal plant should supply power into the national grid gradually if the power deficit was to be improved and hence reduce load-shedding hours.

“Loadshedding hours have not reduced up to now because of the mechanical faults been experienced with equipment at Maamba Thermal Power plant. Their equipment has been tripping and we need power to be coming in gradually if we are to reduce on loadshedding hours.

“We are currently receiving about 100 megawatts extra from the Maamba plant but that is still not enough to reduce the hours to 4,” he said.

And Mr Mabumba said that Government had stepped up its efforts of diversifying from over dependence on hydro power to other sustainable ways of power generation.

He pointed out that the Maamba plant which was coal power was one of the efforts of diversifying from over dependence on hydro power generation.

Mr Mabumba disclosed that another company Emco, was yet to put up a coal electricity plant in Maamba, which he said would produce about 340 megawatts.

He also disclosed that TATA Limited and Ndola Energy Company had also requested to construct a power plant that would be producing 100 megawatts.

Mr Mabumba has since called for escalated efforts in diversifying power generation methods in order to mitigate the power deficit in the country.

“So far we have stepped up our efforts in ensuring that other power generation methods are exploited. But there is still need for a serious power generation mix if we are to have sufficient power and reduce loadshedding hours” he said.