Message Mar 31 Aoû 2010 18:32

Zambia's CEC approves new 40 MW power plant Tue Aug 31, 2010

Zambia's CEC approves new 40 MW power plant
Tue Aug 31, 2010 4:00pm GMT

Print | Single Page
[-] Text [+]
Photo
1 of 1Full Size

LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's main distributor of power to the country's mines has approved the construction of a 40 megawatt hydropower plant following the completion of a feasibility study, the company said on Tuesday.

CEC said in a statement the study involved a detailed assessment of the site and the environmental impact of the power project on the local community.

"The final report has recommended that the project is viable and 40 MW of capacity is recommended. The detailed site design, tendering and financing process for the project has commenced," it said.

Zambia is Africa's largest copper producer, and copper mining is the southern African country's economic lifeline.

Regular power outages, partly due to ageing equipment, in Zambia, which has had no major investments to raise power generation for decades, has forced it to import power from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

CEC also said construction of a separate double-circuit 220kv power line between Zambia and the DRC, being done as a joint venture with DRC power utility SNEL, would facilitate the transfer of 550 MW of power between the two countries.

"Construction and commissioning are set to be complete by the third quarter of 2011," CEC said.

Michael Tarney, the CEC managing director for corporate development, said in June the Kabompo hydropower plant planned for the copper-rich north-western region of Zambia would cost $120 million.

Tarney said CEC was verifying the financial model of the project and would come up with a detailed design before the end of 2010.

The power generation project is expected to be commissioned by 2015, the CEC said.

Zambia currently generates 1,800 MW, while peak power demand estimated at 1,600 MW, but forecasts power demand to rise sharply in the coming years, according to government data.