ZESCO advances green drive – Zambia
“We are on course to advancing green energy through our Renewable Energy department” said the ZESCO Limited Acting Managing Director Mr. Peter Chamfya. Zambia through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry hosted a European Union (EU) – Zambia Inaugural Economic Forum on 18 and 19 May 2022 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
The Economic forum which was held under the theme “Economic Transformation through Green Growth” was graced by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, attracted over 400 delegates spanning from 27 member states of the European Union and Zambia.
The forum birthed synergies with common goals to generate private sector investments, business opportunities and partnerships with a view to foster economic growth through exploring sustainable products and services.
ZESCO Limited was one of the main sponsors of the event and speaking when His Excellency the President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema toured the ZESCO stand, Mr. Peter Chamfya, who is also Director for Distribution, said that “Green Energy plays a key role in the energy transition due to its low environmental impact and offers an alternative to non-renewable energy and helps fight global warming by not producing greenhouse gases or increasing carbon emissions.”
Mr. Hichilema applauded ZESCO for supplementing the government’s efforts to transform the energy industry with no limitation to the electricity sector and encouraged ZESCO to pursue the go green agenda and take the lead.
Over 90% of ZESCO’s electricity is hydro generated making the corporation’s overall carbon footprint low and with the passing of time, ZESCO has gone beyond generation of clean green energy by making electricity available and accessible to low-income households in selected areas by introducing subsidized connection fees through collaborative efforts with the EU under the “Pamodzi Zambia Project”.
Recently, Zambia and ZESCO experienced a lot of challenges in the electricity sector due to changes in the climate and for this reason ZESCO decided to invest in alternative sources of energy in line with the government of the Republic of Zambia’s strategies to foster inclusive, equitable, accelerated development through the sustainable use of human and natural resources, through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to particularly focus on the sustainable use of natural resources.
ZESCO Limited has positioned itself in line with the concept of green growth and has since developed more clean generation sources such as hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, decommissioned more diesel propelled generators and connected the North-western Province and Lukulu District to the national electricity grid. All this is in line with the low carbon development agenda as outlined by its Environmental Sustainability Department. The corporation’s objectives are set to improve the generation mix, increase energy capacity, and increase access to electricity.
Solar Power projects are currently underway at different stages of implementation such as the ZESCO/Masen Kanona where a 100MW plant will be developed in Chitambo District of the Central Province, the Muzuma Project of 75MW Solar PV plant in Choma District, of Southern Province the Wind Chanka Project of 150MW in Isoka district, of Muchinga province and the Geothermal plant Chongo Project in Mpika district in Muchinga province.
Renewable energy helps conserve natural resources and provides reliable power supplies and fuel diversification, which enhances energy security and lower risk of fuel spills while reducing the need for imported fuels and problems associated with natural gas leaks.
The corporation is enthusiastic about this development as it will not only improve the quality of electricity supply to existing customers but also ensure to that there is less pressure on our natural forests created by high demand of wood fuel and charcoal.
