By JUDITH NAMUTOWE-
SWEDISH company Eltel Networks has won a bid to construct the 840-kilometre hydro power line in Northern-western Province at a total cost of US$163 million.
Both Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Lena Nordstrom confirmed in an interview in Lusaka that the project involved connection of power to all the districts in the province.
North-western Province has been depending on diesel for a long time and when the project is completed the scenario will change.
“Zesco advertised the project and Eltel won the bid to connect Nort-western Province to the grid,” she said.
She said the Swedish government expected that Zesco to save millions of dollars from the power project once completed.
Separately, national programme officer – energy and environment at the embassy, Malama Chileshe said the contractor of the project would soon commence mobilisation.
He said the works were expected to be completed within two years.
Of the US$163 million, US$150 million would be financed by Nordea Bank of Sweden.
Mr Chileshe said the Swedish government was hopeful that economic activities would greatly improve once the project was completed.
