Message Mar 16 Juin 2015 21:15

Maamba power project to cushion load shedding – Yaluma

KABANDA CHULU, Lusaka
MINISTER of Mines, Energy and Water Development Christopher Yaluma says commissioning of the 150 megawatts (MW) coal fired Maamba power station next month is likely to mitigate against the electricity load shedding.
Maamba Collieries Limited has built an electricity generation plant with total capacity of 300 MW and the first 150mw generation machines and equipment is expected to be commissioned in July, once Zesco Limited completes installation of transmission lines.
The transmission lines will feed power into the national grid from Maamba to Muzuma and Kafue sub stations and another 150 MW machines will be commissioned in October this year.
In an interview in Lusaka, Mr Yaluma said Zesco is putting in place measures to ensure availability of power.
“We are trying to ensure that electricity supply is not severely interrupted so, we are accelerating to bring on board electricity from Maamba Power Station by end of July this year. The commissioning will help reduce load shedding since the power station will not be affected by low water levels because it is coal fired,” he said.
Zambia’s installed electricity generation capacity stands at 2,200 mw, and is mainly produced through water that drives the turbines and other machines at the country’s hydro power stations but due to low water levels, Zesco Limited has reduced power generation by 300 mw resulting in increased load shedding to all sectors of the economy.