Zambia Seeks To Build 350 MW Thermal Coal Pwr Plant-Official
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29 juillet 2009
12:17
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The Zambian government is in advanced talks with Singapore-based Nava Bharat Ltd.(526656-BY) for the construction of a 350 megawatt thermal power plant at Maamba Collieries as the country seeks to ease its power deficit, an official with the state mining company told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.
An official with Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings, or ZCCM-IH, said talks between the two sides have been underway since the start of the month and are expected to be concluded in the next few weeks to pave way for the construction of the plant.
ZCCM-IH selected Nava Bharat early this year to take over the 600,000 metric tons-a-year coal mine. The company is expected to utilize part of the mine's coal to run the thermal plant.
According to Zambia's ministry of energy and water development, a thermal power plant would take around three years to develop, compared with up to six years to develop a hydro power station.
Zambia has stepped up efforts to develop more power plants to meet rising power demand from copper mining companies, who consume a bulk of the country's generated power.
Nava Bhara is also expected to recapitalize Maamba coal mine to resume normal mining operations at the troubled mine. Company officials declined to comment on the status of talks with ZCCM-IH.
Zambia's power infrastructure is prone to breakdowns, blamed on lack of proper maintenance, due to inadequate investments. Zambia is Africa's largest copper producer.
-By Nicholas Bariyo, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires; +256 75 262 4615; bariyonic@yahoo.co.uk [ 29-07-09 1017GMT ]
Document DJI0000020090729e57t000op