By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
ZESCO Limited invested about US$428.43 million on various projects in the period between 2011 and 2013 and created 1,697 jobs, Mines, Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister Charles Zulu has said.
Of the $428.43 million, $255 million was allocated to Kafue Gorge Lower project distribution and customer services while, $173.43 million was sourced from various commercial banks for the implementation of other projects.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Zulu said the Government had been financing Zesco Limited projects aimed at improving power generation in the country.
Mr Zulu said the company was now managing about 81 projects that would see it improve the performance of the value chain as well as facilitate for wealth creation and improved livelihood of the Zambian people.
He said these projects were at various stages, with some being in the implementation phase, financing, and appraisal adding that Zesco was still carrying out feasibility studies on the other projects.
About 18 projects are focused on the generation infrastructure development, 15 on transmission infrastructure development and 48 on distribution infrastructure development.
“I would like to confirm to you that Zesco has secured loans and grants from multilateral organisations to support its balance of financing projects. The resources have been sourced from the World Bank, African Development Bank, Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA),” Mr Zulu said.
In the period under review, Mr Zulu said Zesco created about 1,697 jobs which comprised 280 permanent and 1,417 contract jobs.
He said Zesco had continued to employ youths in the execution of projects for its expansion of its customer base.
Mr Zulu said: “The youths are engaged in the distribution line construction and other jobs and the multi-skilled human capital presently employed in the energy sector was trained by the company.”
“We have completed the Shiwa’ngandu 1 megawatts power station in Muchinga, we did the refurbishment and updated the 66/33/11 kilovolt skyways substation in Ndola and we also installed and commissioned one of the two 180 megawatts generators under the Kariba North Bank extension project,” he said.
Mr Zulu said the implementation and commissioning of the project during the period under review led to improved customer service, reduced load shedding and facilitated for increased access to electricity services by both urban and rural communities country wide.
