Zambia needs more power stations, says Chitundu
By Kabanda Chulu and Tilyenji Mwanza
Wed 13 June 2012, 13:23 CAT
THE long-term solution to the massive load shedding being experienced is to build additional power generating stations in the country, says Zesco managing director Cyprian Chitundu.
And Chitundu has asked Zesco employees to improve their performance and ensure prompt responses to customer complaints to enhance service delivery following the handover of operational vehicles and other equipment to the power utility.
Speaking to journalists after distributing the vehicles to Zesco divisions and power stations in Lusaka yesterday, Chitundu said Zambia has not built a single power station in the last 40 years.
"It is not true that we didn't foresee this situation of having increased demand during winter…electricity is a dynamic product. As we speak, the customers we had yesterday are different from the ones we have today because every day more customers are added onto our network and the problem we have is that of fixed amount of power supply," Chitundu said.
"It is just like at home, when single, you buy a loaf of bread and when you get married and you have children, you can't expect to eat the same portions you have been used to eating. Similarly, as a country we have not built a single power station during the last 40 years but demand has been increasing and as Zesco, we are constructing new ones starting with extension of Kariba North Bank which will result in adding 360 megawatts to the national grid by next year and then we shall focus on Kafue Lower and Itezhi-tezhi. These projects take long, about five years but customers want to be connected to power today thus putting pressure on our network."
He said load shedding could be reduced in the short term if customers comply with proposed energy saving measures, especially during peak time of early in the morning and around 18 hours.
"In the cold season, there is an increase in the usage of all sorts of heaters and we have noticed that this is also peak period of wheat irrigation and yesterday (Monday) we had a problem at Kariba North where one generator developed a fault but we repaired it and subsequently we had another fault at Luano near Chingola where a transformer developed a fault," he said.
"In three weeks time, we shall have fourth generator at Kariba to help us push sufficient voltage on our network to solve this insufficient voltage leading to our inability to push power within our network and we are also procuring a transformer from in India that will be installed at Luano."
During handover of vehicles, Chitundu said Zesco has this year invested K66 billion to procure vehicles in order to serve customers better.
"We need reliable transport in order to respond effectively to issues of faults and connections and we want these problems to be a thing of the past," said Chitundu.
Labels: CYPRIAN CHITUNDU, ENERGY, LOAD SHEDDING, ZESCO
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Foreign-owned mines not affected by load shedding
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Fri 17 Feb. 2012, 12:00 CAT
FOREIGN mining firms on the Copperbelt Energy Corporation power supply line remain unaffected by increased load shedding that has rocked the country since last Tuesday. Last Monday, Zesco Limited warned of increased load shedding in the next two weeks as a result of the shutdown of a key generating machine at Kariba North Bank Hydropower Station.
Director for corporate affairs and business development Bestty Phiri said Zesco had forecast that local power demand of 1,600 megawatts would be outstripped as during the period of the shutdown, only 1,474 megawatts would be available.
"During the machine outage, 165 megawatts will not be available on the national grid thereby resulting in a power deficit during that period. The deficit will necessitate load shedding in order to balance the available generation capacity with demand," said Phiri.
But CEC managing director for operations Neil Croucher said foreign mining firms on the Copperbelt remained immune from the current increased load shedding which has hit mostly, domestic, small-scale and other industrial consumers.
"We have not had any specific requests so far this week. We had a request last week which we acted upon when Zesco has a problem at the power station," said Croucher in an interview.
"Not at this stage have we been requested to cut back on power uptake from Zesco but we are prepared for that should it come through."
Labels: CEC, ENERGY, HYDRO POWER, LOAD SHEDDING, MINING
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Zesco’s load-shedding irks Chimwemwe residents
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Thu 31 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
Residents of Kitwe’s Chimwemwe township have advised Zesco Limited not to take advantage of their customers as no monopoly lasts forever.
According to a petition letter by the residents copied to Zesco’s Kitwe divisional manager and the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) regional office, the residents warned that Zesco risked suffering in the same way that ZAMTEL was today if the electricity sub-sector was opened up.
The residents complained that Zesco was subjecting them to frequent load shedding and wondered if the trend was because the area was considered to be low cost.
"By and large, we wish to remind you that no monopoly of business lasts forever. One day, you may suffer the pain that ZAMTEL is going through, of being subjected to stiff competition," the residents stated.
"How you treat your customers now will definitely have a bearing on the profitability of your organisation at that time."
The residents stated that they always incurred extra costs as a result of the alleged unconcerned and uncaring attitude by Zesco's technical staff, adding that many residents were forced to pay monthly bills for less or no power supplied at all.
"We have to buy candles, paraffin and charcoal in addition to the monthly bills we pay," they stated. "We have to buy food that was not budgeted for because most of the budgeted food has to go bad in fridges because of frequent power outages and prolonged periods of load shedding that is done almost on a daily basis."
They further stated that most of them usually paid free money to MultiChoice for their monthly satellite dish subscriptions because they viewed less or no entertainment at all as a result of the unreliable power supply.
The residents urged Zesco to urgently find a lasting solution to frequent power outages in the area, adding that their lives and property were at risk as darkness was a haven for criminals.
Labels: KITWE, LOAD SHEDDING, ZESCO
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ECZ must be independent
Written by Sichone SK,Kabwe
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:18:05 PM
The manner in which the just-ended elections were conducted makes me a sad man.
I wish to strongly recommend to members of parliament that regardless of which political party they belong to, they need to ensure that they enact laws that make ECZ completely detached from government manipulation.
I fear that in its current position, the ECZ is a recipe for anarchy. As a citizen, going by what has happened, l felt justified to defend my country against crooks, thieves and manipulators who have openly confessed who they are.
But I give it one last chance. I’m sure there can be a better way of finding a lasting solution to this. I personally don’t fancy the ECZ director’s arrogance, I think he does not represent Zambians as a public office bearer.
To the opposition, I say time is now to unite. Bury your differences and work for the common good. There is no one solution for Zambia. You need to work together.
Selfish opposition
Written by John Kane
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:21:47 PM
Allow me to express my views on the just-ended presidential election. Yet again, the change that people wanted has been denied due to splitting of votes among the opposition.
Prior to the elections,we advised two major political parties to merge as the only way to remove the incumbent government from power. However, due to selfish motives, they thought they were popular and did not heed our advice.
Consequently, Zambians who wanted change have been disappointed and have found voting as a waste of time and energy. It is, therefore, of great importance that PF and UPND start considering merging to restore confidence in the Zambian electorate or there will be voter apathy in 2011.
Polls: acting on observations
Written by Concerned citizen
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:19:54 PM
The collapse and total erosion of our hard-earned democracy is imminent.
Unless the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) strongly addresses the observations made by the losing candidates in the just-ended presidential polls, we risk condemning this nation to a level where elections will lose their relevance in as far as governance is concerned.
The mood on the ground is that of absolute despair. For instance, most of our young men and women on whom the future of this country hinges are indicating that they see no reason in continuing to participate in future elections.
If this is allowed to take root, we should not be surprised to see massive apathy during the 2011 polls. In no time at all, Zambia will find itself being ruled by a president chosen by less than 10 per cent of the eligible voters.
If this is the democracy that we advocated in 1991, then we have clearly failed our nation and the one party dictatorship comes out tops.
Only God knows what happened during the presidential polls last week but in the light of all the dissenting views, action needs to be taken to restore confidence.
It is only when this is done that our democracy can be salvaged, otherwise we have lost the footing. The manner in which the ECZ is going to handle the observations made by the losing candidates and some independent observers shall make or break the democratic path Zambia took in 1991.
Please ECZ, all Zambians are looking to you with a lot of hope and faith that you will make a difference and allow our democracy to thrive, so don’t let us down.
2008 election
Written by Ronald
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:22:43 PM
I feel the just-ended presidential election wasn't free and fair because there were a number of malpractices reported in various areas, including attempts to insert marked ballot papers in sealed ballot boxes.
Lastly, I should say, may God punish the riggers with perpetual suffering.
2011 elections
Written by Concerned citizen
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:23:21 PM
I feel the electoral commission should avail us with information about how many people are registered
as voters in each constituency and how many polling stations are in such constituencies at least 3 months before voting in 2011.
They should be bold to publish such information in our daily papers. This will add to transparency. ECZ should stop printing ballot papers in South Africa.
ECZ should also stop telling us that trucks break down in North Western and Western provinces because these trucks don’t break down. In 2011, they should use Rupiah’s chopper to transport ballot papers so that we do not get any excuses.
Unpopular president
Written by Gilbert Wandi
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:24:16 PM
Why should a country of over 12 million people have a president elected
just by 718,359 voters? Can we honestly call him a popularly elected president?
I think there is a lot of work which the Electoral Commission of Zambia is supposed to do in voter education and registration. Why should a country of 12 million have a voter register of only 3 million people as if you are just covering a town like Lusaka?
The Electoral Commission of Zambia needs to register more people than what they have now.
And for those in rural areas, as long as they continue voting in exchange of sugar, salt and a bag of mealie-meal, they should forget about seeing real development taken to their areas. They will continue being tormented by poverty that is there now.
The voting pattern from our brothers and sisters in rural areas is really disappointing, disastrous and they vote as if they live better lives than the people in town.
To the MMD government, you have won the elections but don’t over celebrate because you have a lot of work to do. One question MMD leaders should ask themselves is why should you always be rejected by the people in towns who are like the engine power of our country?
This is not the first time it is happening and it’s time you found out why you always lose in towns. You get good votes from our brothers and sisters from rural areas as you say, but you give them nothing in return. They continue living in abject poverty. I wonder what motivates rural people to vote the way they do and what makes MMD popular in such areas. To Rupiah Banda as the President now, try to work and find out why people in town always reject your party, MMD.
http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/996/64/
Rupiah, load shedding
Written by Webby Mwila, Kitwe
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:25:04 PM
We all recall that during the campaigns,President Rupiah Banda did promise that he will ensure that loadshedding is a thing of the past by next year if voted in office.
But I was shocked to hear the same man in his inaugural speech shifting from next year to barely laying down a plan which will take us as far as 2016 and yet inviting inverstors. Come on Rupiah, these people will need power before they can think of spending. It’s not all about winning the vote, Zambians are watching and want action now. You are just nailing your party for 2011.
Zambians are watching every move of those once rejected but ‘influential’ job seekers around you.
Labels: CORRUPTION, ECZ, ELECTIONS, LOAD SHEDDING, OPPOSITION, RUPIAH BANDA
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Zesa should load-shed fairly
EDITOR — I am a resident of Canaan in Highfield and this is my plea to Zesa Holdings. We all understand the need and necessity of load-shedding and accept it. My plea to you is, please try your best to ensure that load-shedding is distributed evenly. If Highfield is to be without power, then the whole of Highfield should be without power.
It is quite frustrating and disheartening to lose power and then look out through the window across the street and see the lights on at my neighbour’s house.
Please Zesa, I beg you to come up with a timetable that is fair to everyone.
If it is impossible to load-shed the whole area at the same time, then let us rotate days instead of one section being on the receiving end everyday of the week.
Regis Sibanda.
Highfield,
Harare.
Labels: LOAD SHEDDING, ZESA
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Agric sector welcomes load-shedding schedule
Chinhoyi Bureau
STAKEHOLDERS in the agricultural sector, among them farmers and Agritex officials, have welcomed Zesa Holdings’ move to introduce a load-shedding schedule which they say would enhance productivity during this year’s winter wheat farming season. Farmers said the scheduling would make planning for irrigation purposes easier.
"This is what we have been calling on Zesa to do all along because last year we could have had a better yield were it not for the intermittent and unplanned load-shedding. As a farmer, I am confident that yields will be better this year," said a farmer in Zvimba.
Agritex has also hailed the power utility for providing the schedule on time, saying it would ensure farmers get the best yield if irrigation cycles are followed.
A senior Mashonaland West Agritex official said a stakeholders’ panel comprising the Department of Irrigation, farmers’ unions and Agritex, had been set up to assist farmers get the best out of the schedule provided by Zesa.
"We all know that the problem of electricity is not only peculiar to Zimbabwe, but is also a regional one and as such Zesa has done its best under the circumstances to provide the schedule on time," the official said. He said focus was now on ensuring high productivity from the land that has been prepared.
"The idea is not about how many hectares farmers have managed to put under the crop, but productivity and that is what we are encouraging farmers to do," the official said.
The Department of Irrigation will assess the irrigation equipment each farmer has and determine a hectarage that ensures optimum yield under the given load-shedding schedule.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, IRRIGATION, LOAD SHEDDING, ZIMBABWE
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