Message Mar 15 Mar 2011 07:01

CEC studying Luapula hydro power sites

THE Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has been authorised to undertake feasibility studies on hydro sites on the Luapula River and establish a power transmission line connecting Copperbelt and Luapula provinces through the Pedicle Road region in the Democratic Republic of Congo.



The firm has since started studies of the river power scheme.



Company secretary, Julia Chaila, said CEC submitted a request to the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) unit of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to undertake the works.



She said the company also pre-qualified to participate in the next stage of bidding to develop a distribution network for the proposed Nansanga farm block, which is under PPP.



The next stage of bidding involves submission of detailed bids for the project.



She, however, said the company is currently in talks with Zesco Limited and its customers with a view to migrating tariffs to cost reflective levels and ensuring tariffs are sufficient to fund new investments in power generation and transmission required to establish a sustainable energy sector.



CEC is supplying power to new mining projects on the Copperbelt which include Muliashi project by Luanshya Copper Mine, and the company is also constructing a substation for Konkola North Mine (KONOCO). KONOCO is a joint venture between Vale of Brazil and a South African company.



CEC is also constructing a hydro power station in Mwinilunga