The Government’s decision to import electricity and seek other sources of energy to mitigate the current power deficit in the country is a timely and welcome intervention.
Zambians should take this bold decision to import power ranging from 150 to 200 Megawatts (MW) seriously because they are dealing with a concerned political party that cares about the welfare of citizens as well as production output in key economic sectors such as the mines among others that rely on power to remain functional.
Just when some prophets of doom started politicizing the load shedding, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma announced in a ministerial statement in Parliament on the government’s concern on the matter and the seriousness attached to it.
The Government has gone a step further by assuring the nation that it is considering other measures which include development of renewable energy sources.
The long-awaited measures include the construction of the 300MW coal-fired power plant by Maamba Collieries in Southern Province which was ready for commissioning and would supplement supply.
Mr Yaluma assured the country that the Government would continue promoting fresh investments and the use of other energy sources beyond hydro-power to cushion the current shortage.
Government has also terminated selected contracts of electricity exports to neighbouring countries while others were under review as the bilateral agreements were signed when the country had surplus energy.
Once more it is vital for the citizenry to understand that the load-shedding was as a result of water levels at the Kariba and Itezhi-Tezhi reservoirs drastically reducing due to poor rainfall patterns in the 2014 to 2015 rainy season.
This has forced the Zambezi River Authority to ration water used for power generation by 10 per cent.
To echo Mr Yaluma’s word, Government is aware of the adverse impact of load shedding hence the move to explore available short to medium term avenues to address the situation.
Citizens should also be aware of the fact that Zesco has in turn lost US$116 million on account of rationing power to each customer for at least 10 hours each day.
Zambians should understand that energy provision is dependent on nature which is unpredictable putting man at the mercy of climatic changes.
Last year, the UK imported power from neighbouring countries as the country’s electricity margin continued to tighten.
The UK also realised that electricity imports can be cheaper than those produced by UK suppliers and are a small but growing part of the country’s overall power supply.
Power is produced in France and the Netherlands and imported via subsea interconnectors.
Though electricity flows both ways, the UK currently buys more than it sells.
Net electricity imports cost the UK about £365 million in the past six months of 2013, two and a half times more than two years previously, according to data supplied by ICIS, the price reporting agency.
Hydropower projects in Zambia like in other countries is highly sensitive to climate change impacts.
On alternative energy sources to hydro power, Zambians should keep their fingers crossed and wait for the promotion of both thermal and solar power.
Continued dependence on one thing is a risky venture as seen this far in terms of hydro power.
It could be dietary habits that have made people depend on maize or it could be on economic survival that has tied the country to copper.
Since experience is the best teacher, let 2015 teach the country a lesson, so that more efforts are tailored to invest more alternative energy sources.  OPINION