Zambian gov't says power cuts to end next year

Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina said on Wednesday that the government will put power cuts to an end next year.

"Currently, we are still load-shedding but not as much as we used to. Next year load-shedding in Zambia will be a thing of the past," Wina said during a meeting in the United Kingdom, according to a statement released by the Zambian Embassy in London.

She said the government is currently undertaking various intervention measures to end power cuts. One of the interventions is the 4 billion U.S. dollars Batoka Hydroelectric Scheme in the southern part of the country which will produce 2,400 megawatts of electricity.

She added that such projects as well as investments in alternative source of energy will greatly improve the power situation in the country.

Zambia has been implementing electricity rationing at four hours since June 2015 following a power deficit caused by low water levels in its reservoirs for hydro power generation, from which about 90 percent of Zambia's electricity comes.

Zambia's power utility firm said on Tuesday that power cuts may reduce further by March this year if the country continues receiving average to above-average rainfall. Endit