Thu, 21 Sep 2017 12:00:24 +0000
By Mailesi Banda
THE Rural Electrification Authority says it will carry out its projects in phases due to limited resources.
Corporate Affairs manager, Justine Mukosa says their annual budget stood at K475 million while they were allocated K114 million in the 2017 national budget.
Mr. Mukosa explained that due to limited resources, they had decided to do rural electrification projects in phases to implement the projects they had started.
Speaking at a media briefing on capital investment and implementation of the 2017 rural electrification projects Mr. Mushoke said they would develop about 423 kilometres of new extension projects in Luapula and Western provinces.
He said the K21million Katana grid extension was handed over to the contractors last month and bush clearing had commenced while the K22.6 million worth Milenge grid extension project was expected to be completed by April 2018.
He said works on the installation of solar mini grid power stations had been progressive.
“The REA has been implementing solar mini grids in Chunga area in the Kafue national park and Lunga in Luapula Province and we can say the first phase of the Chunga project was completed while for the Lunga project, tenders have been made for the operation and maintenance of the plant,” Mr. Mushoke said.
He further said the $8.7 million Kasanjiku mini hydro project would be completed in December 2018 adding that equipment for the power station had been manufactured and was in transit to Zambia.
