RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AUTHORITY CALLS ON RESPONSIBLE INSTITUTIONS TO CONTROL INFLUX OF FAKE SOLAR PRODUCTS ON THE ZAMBIAN MARKET

A massive solar panel installation at the University of Queensland.

 

THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AUTHORITY HAS CALLED ON THE ZAMBIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS AND THE ENERGY REGULATION BOARD TO CONTROL THE TYPES AND QUALITY OF SOLAR PRODUCTS THAT HAVE PENETRATED THE LOCAL MARKET.

SPEAKING ON RADIO PHOENIX`S  LET THE PEOPLE PROGRAMME TODAY; RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILFRED SERENJE CAUTIONED THE PUBLIC THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FAKE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET HENCE THE NEED FOR THE RESPONSIBLE INSTITUTIONS TO STEP UP THEIR EFFORTS IN AVERTING THE INFLUX OF  PRODUCTS WHOSE QUALITY IS SUBSTANDARD.

FURTHER MR SERENJE INDICATED THAT THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AUTHORITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING THE TENDERS AND WILL SOON AWARD CONTRACTS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTS.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE AUTHORITY IS HOWEVER TARGETING THE RURAL SCHOOLS, HEALTH CENTERS AND PALACES UNDER THIS PROJECT STRESSING THAT KALOMO, AND LUKULU ARE AMONG THE FIRST SIX DISTRICTS WHERE THE SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED.

AND RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AUTHORITY  SOLAR ENERGY FOCAL PERSON WAUKUNDA SIWAKWI EXPLAINED THAT GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED ITS BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO TOWARDS RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND STANDS AT K150 BILLION FOR 2011.

HE SAYS  GOVERNMENT IS SLOWLY RECOGNIZING THE ROLE SOLAR ENERGY PLAYS TOWARDS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.

MR SIWAKWI  FURTHER SAYS  THE CHALLENGE IS TO SEE SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPED IN THE COUNTRY TO A LEVEL WHERE ITS CONTRIBUTION CAN BE RECOGNIZED ON THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.

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