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Zambia to experience more load shedding, says Sisala

Zambia to experience more load shedding, says Sisala
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Sunday May 11, 2008 [04:01]

ZAMBIA’S inter-connector with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been cut resulting in increased load shedding in the country, Zesco managing director Rhodnie Sisala has confirmed. And a source said efforts by Zesco to expedite the restoration of power supply on the 120 megawatts line has proved difficult because authorities in DRC have been averse.

Meanwhile, Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) said the disconnection of the Zambia-DRC inter-connector has only negatively affected domestic consumers as mining companies were adequately being energised under the bulk supply arrangement.

Currently, the DRC inter-connector is Zambia’s sole source of imported electricity after the country disconnected from the regional power pool following system disturbances early this year which resulted in three national blackouts.

“I can confirm that our inter-connector with DRC was vandalised last Friday (May 2) and the vandalism occurred on the Congo side,” Sisala said. “This means that the 120 megawatts that we import from DRC has not been available in the last 10 days and that has caused further load shedding in the country. But we are hopeful that our colleagues from Congo will restore this service soon.”

And a source said Zesco’s repeated efforts to work with their counterparts in DRC to restore power were proving difficult.

“The problem emanated from the DRC side after the tower was damaged. The vandals stole the conductors from the transmission line. So, currently our imports from DRC which fluctuate between 100 to 120 megawatts are out,” said the source.

“But the biggest problem is that Snel has not moved with haste despite repeated pleas from here (Zesco). Even during the Southern Power meeting, Zesco management approached them over the matter and they assured us that the line would be restored by last Wednesday but up to now nothing is happening…you know these war-torn countries, we can only push them to a certain extent.”

Meanwhile, CEC investor relations manager Clara Musama who also confirmed the development said the disturbance had only negatively affected domestic consumers.

“The line has been having problems but that is not affecting the mining companies as they are adequately covered under the bulk supply arrangement that we have with Zesco,” said Musama.

“Although the transmission line from DRC belongs to us, it is basically used by Zesco to supply to mostly domestic and other consumers.”
The SAPP inter-connectors were disconnected last February to allow regional utilities, particularly Zesa, Eskom of South Africa and Kariba North Station in Zambia to easily trace faults that were causing disturbances on the grid.

Labels: CEC, RHODNIE SISALA, ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 12:42 PM