Maravi

ZACCI urges govt to create new power plants

ZACCI urges govt to create new power plants
By Florence Bupe and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tuesday March 25, 2008 [03:00]

Zambia Association of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has said the government’s move to zero- rate energy saving equipment is not a solution to the prevailing power crisis in the country. Commenting on the statutory move, ZACCI chairman Hanson Sindowe said although the move was well intended, there was still need for the government to consider setting up new power generation stations.

Sindowe explained that zero-rating energy saving equipment was only a medium term solution to the power crisis that had rocked the country. Sindowe, who is also Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) chairman, said there was need to get the public more involved in dealing with the power crisis through responsible use of the commodity.

“Whatever efforts government is instituting to address the power outages we are facing will be futile if people remain unconscious of how much energy they are consuming. People should be encouraged to install solar supported equipment, such as solar geysers, to cut down on energy consumption,” said Sindowe.

And Saro Agri Equipment Limited has said it is inevitable that the cost of production for most goods would go up as companies start substituting conventional electricity in their production process. Oza said producing goods on generator sets was more expensive compared to using conventional electricity.

He singled out the manufacturing sector as the segment of the economy that was likely to be most hit by the power outages adding that the industry’s competitiveness was under threat.

Labels: ENERGY, HANSON SINDOWE, ZACCI

posted by MrK @ 7:35 AM