By JAMES KUNDA –

ZAMBIA has recorded rising demand for its power from neighbouring countries but will not increase exports because of the existing deficit locally, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma has said.

Mr Yaluma said Namibia had applied for an additional 50 Megawatts (MW) of electricity from Zambia to cushion that country’s growing demand for energy.

He reiterated that the country would only maintain electricity exports to selected countries during off-peak hours to earn additional foreign exchange.

“Electricity exports for now will only be allowed during off-peak hours between 22:00 hours and 06:00 hours because this is a strategy to only earn the country some additional income.

So countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and others will continue to receive not more than 50 MW of electricity because the aim is to meet the local demand for energy,” Mr Yaluma said.

He said the Government had liberalised the energy sector to accommodate Independent Power Producers (IPP) to balance energy supply with local demand.

Maamba Collieries Limited had almost completed its 600 MW thermal power plant in Sinazongwe, while Ndola Energy Limited recently commissioned its 50 MW Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) plant to supply additional power to Zesco.

Currently, Zambia supplies 50 MW of electricity to Botswana and Namibia in the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) and an additional 50 MW of the commodity to the DRC.

This exercise earns the country US$2million in foreign exchange per month.