Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote has disclosed that ZESCO Limited has negotiated the procurement of 218 megawatts of electricity at a total cost of US$14 million from Eskom South Africa and Zimbabwe power company to cushion the power deficit.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka, Mr. Chikote says the electricity that has been procured is expected to be injected into the national grid within this month. And Mr. Chikote has disclosed that two units for Maamba collieries limited will be taken off the grid one at a time as the company is scheduled to undertake its mandatory maintenance at the end of August into September, 2024 adding that this exercise will cause an extra power deficit of 135 megawatts for the month of September.
Meanwhile, the Minister says as at 31st July, 2024, the national peak demand was 2,400 megawatts while the available power generation is only 1,040 megawatts bringing the power deficit to 1,360 megawatts.
And ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani has disclosed that the firm is making a US$21 million loss of revenue on the domestic market owing to the ongoing loadshedding.
