ZAMBIA WILL CONTINUE EXPERIENCING LOW ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 7 DAYS

THE COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE EXPERIENCING LOW ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 7 DAYS BECAUSE THE STATE UTILITY OWNED AND PROVIDER EXTENDED THE POWER LOAD SHEDDING TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT.

THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE 180 MW GENERATORS AT THE KARIBA NORTH BANK POWER HYDRO STATION IS INTENDED TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE AND ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT AS PART OF THE COUNTRY’S REHABILITATION OF AGEING EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO BOOST POWER OUTPUT, CURRENTLY ON THE INCREASE IN THE COUNTRY.
COMPANY SPOKESPERSON MR. ANDRE MAKULU SAID THAT THE STATE RUN POWER COMPANY EXTENDED THE LOAD SHEDDING PERIOD OR ANOTHER 7 DAYS UNTIL MAY 22ND 2011 TO ALLOW FOR POST COMMISSIONING WORKS BY A CONTRACTOR AT THE PLANT.

THE EXTENSION OF THE OUTAGE OF GENERATOR NUMBER THREE AT KARIBA NORTH BANK POWER STATION FOR COMMISSIONING WORKS BY THE CONTRACTOR HAD BEEN EXTENDED BECAUSE WORKS HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED BY MAY 15.
MR. MAKULU SAID THAT THE CONTRACTOR’S ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO COMPLETE THE WORKS BUT THAT HAVE BEEN DELAYED DUE TO TECHNICAL CHALLENGES.

HE SAID THAT THE SHUTTING OF A KEY GENERATOR UNIT AT KARIBA NORTH BANK HYDRO POWER PLANT DEPRIVED THE COUNTRY OF 180 MW FROM THE NATIONAL GRID.

THE POST COMMISSIONING WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MAY 21ST 2011 AND THE COUNTRY HAS SINCE SUSPENDING 180 MW AT KARIBA NORTH BANK BEEN IMPORTING 125 MW OF POWER DAILY FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND NAMIBIA TO MITIGATE THE SHORTFALL.
POWER IS HOWEVER SUSTAINED AT THE MINES BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY AND THERE HAS BEEN NO EFFECT ON THE SUPPLY TO THE MINES DESPITE THE EXTENSION OF OUTAGE OF THE GENERATOR.

AND THE MINES HAVE SINCE THE SHUTDOWN OF THE GENERATOR AVOIDED EXCESS USE OF NON ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT TO ALLOW THE POWER COMPANY UNDERTAKES REPAIRS TO THE EQUIPMENT.

AND COMMENTING ON THE PLANS BY ZESCO LIMITED TO REVIEW TARIFFS TO COST REFLECTIVE LEVELS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, ECONOMIC CONSULTANT BOB SICHINGA SAID ANY ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ELECTRICITY SHOULD BE IN A WAY THE IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY.

MR SICHINGA TOLD RADIO PHOENIX THAT THE ECONOMIC STABILITY WHICH THE COUNTRY HAS REGISTERED SHOULD NOT JEOPARDIZE WITH THE GAINS THAT THE COUNTRY HAS MADE IN THE RECENT PAST.

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