On April 30, Zambia’s state-owned power utility, ZESCO Limited, commissioned the 750 MW Kafue Gorge Lower hydroelectric plant. This achievement is the result of ZESCO’s ability to raise its own funding, find viable solutions and set up an efficient network. According to ZESCO’s General Manager Victor Mapani, this success is the result of a solid system put in place by the company, which has enabled it to finance the completion of three production units in just six months.
For the President of the Republic, Hakainde Hichilema, energy is a key component of the New Government’s economic transformation agenda and is essential to accelerate Zambia’s rise as a regional manufacturing and processing hub. He also affirmed the government’s commitment to the development of renewable energy solutions, such as solar power plants. However, hydropower plants will continue to provide a base of electricity generation while achieving the energy mix necessary for a resilient system that is immune to climate shocks.
A $2 billion project
The $2 billion power plant project is located on the Kafue River in Chikankata District, Southern Province. The project includes a 140-meter high concrete dam and a power plant with five 150 MW generating units.
Prior to the commissioning of this plant, ZESCO had only one unit in operation, out of the five originally planned, due to the suspension of work by the main contractor because of unpaid payments. This meant that the country could only use 150 megawatts, or one-fifth of the plant’s total generating capacity, as ZESCO’s managing director Victor Mapani said.
