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Zambian power utility reduces power rationing hours

Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambia's power utility said on Wednesday that it has reduced power rationing from eight to four hours daily after an improvement of water flows at one of its reservoirs for hydro power.

For almost a year, Zambia has been rationing electricity after erratic rains hit its hydropower generation. About 90 percent of Zambia's electricity comes from hydro power plants.

But Zesco Limited said water levels at Itezhi-tezhi dam has improved and that the firm was now able to generate full capacity of 120 megawatt at the Itezhi-tezhi power plant.

"This development, coupled with the increase in imports has made it possible for Zesco to reduce load shedding (power rationing) from eight to four hours," Bessie Banda, the company's senior manager for marketing and public relations said in a statement.

She said the electricity rationing will ease even further as the power utility was in the process of commissioning projects that were nearing completion.

Last month, Zambian President Edgar Lungu said the power deficit would reduce from 1,000 megawatts to below 400 megawatts by mid-June after an improvement in water levels.

He further said the country will this month start importing about 300 megawatts of electricity from South Africa. Endit