Zambia’s Zesco Seeks Power Imports to Mitigate Energy Deficit
Zambia’s state-owned electricity utility, Zesco, announced plans on Monday to import power in order to address an impending energy shortfall that threatens production in the nation, known as Africa’s second-largest copper producer.
With 86% of its electricity sourced from hydropower stations, Zambia faces challenges due to a severe drought caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon marked by abnormal warming of the waters in the eastern Pacific, resulting in global temperature fluctuations.
Zesco anticipates a power generation deficit of 700 megawatts this year, prompting negotiations for additional electricity imports.
These imports are intended to be strategically allocated to vital sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing to bolster economic stability and growth. However, specific details regarding the volume of power sought for importation were not disclosed.
In response to reduced generation capacity, Zesco cautioned mining companies about potential fluctuations in power supply, raising concerns about the country’s copper output.
Zambia’s copper production decreased to approximately 698,000 tons in 2023 from 763,000 tons the previous year, as reported by the country’s mining chamber.
The potential threat to copper production in Zambia adds to global concerns about tightened supplies, which could further constrain the refined production of this essential metal utilized in power and construction industries.
