EXPEDITE ELECTRICITY STUDY, INCOMING GOVT URGED
The UPND administration should expedite the completion of the Electricity Cost of Service study and ensure that it’s completed before the end of the year, the energy expert has said.
Johnstone Chikwanda said the study is one of the projects that the President-Elect and his administration should focus on because it’s aimed at satisfying future electricity demand and developing the energy sector.
Mr. Chikwanda said in an interview that President Edgar Lungu and his administration made progress in a number of projects but has left incomplete critical projects among them the electricity cost of service study.
He said the study which is also in the UPND manifesto on energy is critical in creating benchmarks of how much electricity tariffs are supposed to be charged in the market not only by ZESCO but even by Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Mr. Chikwanda said the study was crucial because the public as consumers don’t know if they are underpaying or overpaying ZESCO because tariff charges have been one of the major disputes in the sector.
“It’s very important that the incoming administration address the matter which the outgoing administration has left behind in order to improve the energy security in the country,” he said.
And Mr. Chikwanda advised the UPND administration to revive INDENI petroleum refinery and create job opportunities for the local people.
He said the only crude oil processing plant in the country has been non-functional for over a year denying the local people jobs.
The refinery meets 50 percent of the country’s petroleum needs while the other 50 percent is through the Oil Marketing Company (OMC) and the government contracted suppliers.
BY KETRA KALUNGA
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