Mr. Christopher Yaluma

By JAMES KUNDA –

ZAMBIA has been able to save 78.16 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the 1,336,175 cumulative number of energy serving bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Lightings (CFLs), installed around the country.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said 58 MW was saved from the distribution of 922,330 CFLs Philips consignments and another 21.16 Mw from the 423,119 CFLs acquired from ZEM, a Norwegian energy firm.
Zambia consumes a total of 7.614 billion kilowatts per hour of electricity.
Mr Yaluma was speaking during a panel discussion at the ongoing 6th Annual Africa Energy Indaba in Sandton, South Africa.
This is contained in a statement made available in Ndola yesterday by first Secretary for Press at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa, Patson Chilemba.
Mr Yaluma said K736, 000 was being saved monthly from the installation of 29,420 CFLs in areas with diesel stations such as Mwinilunga, Luangwa, Mufumbwe, Kabompo, Zambezi, Chavuma, Lukulu and Shang’ombo.
He said Government considered energy security as paramount, and had put in place interventions such as fuel procurement mechanisms that were predictable and covering more than two years, to avoid shortages due to lack of supply.
Mr Yaluma said the construction of 120 MW Itezhi Tezhi, 750 MW Kafue Gorge Lower and the 360 MW Kariba North Bank power stations would enhance energy security and help to alleviate load shedding, after commissioning.
He said other interventions such as the grid code would facilitate the participation of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the energy sector.
Mr Yaluma said Government was cognisant of the massive benefits renewable energy could bring to sustainable economic growth as well as achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), saying access to modern energy services for the majority of rural communities would be promoted.