Hichilema commissions US$9.5M REA power plant

By GIDEON NYENDWA

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has officially commissioned the US $ 9.5 million Rural Electrification Authority (REA) 640 KV Kasanjiku Mini-hydro Power Plant (KMHPP) in Mwinilunga district of North Western province.
Speaking during the commissioning of the mini power plant, Mr Hichilema said with the electricity connection in Ntambu and Sailunga Chiefdoms, people could innovative and engage in various economic activities.
President Hichilema said electricity attracted investment and was hopeful that the chiefdoms in the region would never be the same again with people connected to power.
Mr Hichilema has directed REA to consider extending the electricity connection to the Kalubila district to improve the commercial viability of the project.
Government through REA developed a 640 KV Kasanjiku Mini-Hydro Power Plant (KMHPP) on the Kasanjiku River in Ntambu Chiefdom in Mwinilunga in Northern Western province.
The plat was constructed under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with a consortium of National Research Institute of Rural Electrification (NRIRE)/CCC Engineering Limited /HNAC Technology.
The total cost of the project was at the sum US$9.5 million which include ECP, supervision and local cost.
The Scope of work included the construction of the power plant, staff houses, a 10 km Main Access Road and 20 km of 33kv evacuation overhead line.
The project started in 2015 and successfully pre commissioned for testing December 20, 2020 and become operational on June 16 2021.
The power plant was designed to provide electricity supply to 2,000 households in Ntambu and Sailunga Chiefdoms with a total target of 100km of 33kV overhead Line and 50km of 400V Medium Volage Overhead Line at a 3 percent projected growth.