By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO –

THE Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has identified 1,217 rural growth centres targeted for electrification by 2030.
Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development Charles Zulu said the authority’s master plan would increase the electrification rate in rural areas from three per cent as at 2008, to 51 per cent by the year 2030.
The K1.7 billion REA budget for the period 2014-2018 translates into an annual budget of K340 million for the implementation of projects to increase access to electricity by 2030.
Mr Zulu said Government had  recognised the importance of planning as demonstrated by actions to realign the Sixth National Developement Plan (SNDP) and the Vision 2030 with expectations to drive the country’s socio-economic development across all sectors of the economy.
He made these remarks during the launch of the REA Strategic Plan for the period 2014 to 2018 and the unveiling of its logo on Wednesday in Lusaka.
“With regard to increasing access to electricity in rural areas, I must say that Government is cognisant of the fact that electricity is one of the paramount cornerstones for development in any country, as areas without it often remain underdeveloped,” he said.
He expressed gratitude towards the continued technical and financial support to all cooperating partners in the implementation of the rural electrification programme in Zambia.
He said the plan was a critical instrument that would assist Government to light up the rural community in the next five years and urged the authority to prudently utilise the plan.
REA Board Chairperson, Professor Jorry Mwenechanya said REA had diligently implemented projects in an equitable and systematic manner.
Prof Mwenechanya said the authority had taken electricity to areas that had no power, thereby improving the living standards of the affected communities.
He reaffirmed REA’s commitment to attain its master plan to provide electricity to 51 per cent of the population by 2030.
REA director support services Jacqueline Musonda said the authority was faced with a challenge in coming up with the K340 million funds for 2014 projects, as it had only raised about K280 million.