Off the wire
• Roundup: ANCWL calls for dismantling of print media oligopolies in S. Africa  • Urgent: IS executes 232 people in Iraq  • Nepal's national flag carrier takes initiative to receive Chinese planes  • Singapore stocks close 0.45 pct lower  • Foreign exchange rates in Singapore  • 1st LD Writethru: HK stocks close 0.77 pct lower  • Top news items in major Zambia media outlets  • China publishes CPC key meeting communique  • Mazda to recall 24,799 vehicles over defective doors  • Top news in major S. African media outlets  
You are here: 　 Home

Zambia power utility says extended electricity rationing to end on Nov. 12

Xinhua, October 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambia's power utility has said the extended electricity rationing being experienced by customers would only end on November 12.

Bessie Banda, the company's senior marketing for marketing and public relations, said on Thursday the extending electricity rationing being experienced was due to reduction of generation at its main hydropower plant, the Kafue Gorge Power Station, from 700 megawatts to 600 megawatts due to reduced water levels.

On Wednesday, Zesco Limited sent notices to its customers warning them of extended electricity rationing for as long as eight hours due to constraints on its system.

Banda said the move has also been necessitated by works involving the upgrading of a 220kv line to 330kv in readiness for the total evacuation of power from a coal-powered power plant, Maamba Collieries Power Station, in the southern part of the country into the national grid as well as a loss of 48 megawatts of generation from Ndola Energy Company Limited.

"Zesco is committed to providing reliable electricity and is doing everything possible to ensure all transmission and generation constraints are mitigated in the shortest possible time. In particular, the line upgrade works will be completed by 11th November 2016, which will strengthen the capacity to evacuate power from Maamba." he said.

The power utility has in recent months been implementing a four-hour rationing program due to a power deficit the country is facing.

Zambia has been facing a power deficit since June last year due to reduced water levels in its reserves.

About 90 percent of Zambia's electricity is hydro-generated. Endit