By BRIAN HATYOKA –
THE Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) in Livingstone and Kazungula has welcomed China’s interest to assist Zambia develop the Batoka Gorge Hydro-power generation station.
ZNFU chairperson for Livingstone and Kazungula Ruth Hensen said the new power station would increase the supply of electricity in the tourist capital and other surrounding areas to support farming and other economic activities.
Ms Hensen said some farming activities along Zambezi River had stopped because of the high price for electricity and she expressed hope that the price would come down when the new station was operational.
She was speaking in an interview in Livingstone in response to China’s interest to develop Batoka Gorge power station.
In announcing Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao’s visit to Zambia early this week, outgoing Chinese ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao said his country was interested in helping Zambia work on the Batoka Gorge power station.
“We welcome the interest by China as it would boost the power generation capacity for Livingstone and other surrounding areas.
“However, we are hoping that the price of electricity will come down after we have two power stations in the area,” she said.
Ms Hensen, who is Livingstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) vice chairperson, also said there was need for the Government to balance tourism and other economic activities as the construction of Batoka Gorge power station along Zambezi River would affect tourism
activities such as white water rafting.
The Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe are planning to construct a US$ 6 billion Batoka Hydro-Electric Scheme along Zambezi River with a capacity to produce 1, 600 Megawatts (MW) of power.
Both power projects would be located about 54 kilometres downstream from Victoria Falls extending across the international boundary of the two countries.
There will be an 800 MW power plant on the Zambian side and another 800 MW on the Zimbabwean side at Batoka Gorge.
Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has been mandated by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe to facilitate the implementation of the project in close consultations with Zesco Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company.
