By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
ANOTHER batch of 49 solar- powered milling units have arrived in the country through  Beira Port in Mozambique, bringing the total number of units to 100.
Last week, 48 units arrived through the Nakonde border post and were dispatched to Kasama District in readiness for installation.
Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) director general James Chirwa confirmed this in an interview yesterday.
Mr Chirwa said the 49 solar- powered milling units which had since been offloaded in Chipata District arrived in the country on Monday this week.
“I would like to confirm that the solar powered milling plants have arrived in the country.
“The federation has since started laying foundations where these solar- powered milling units of mini milling plants will be installed in selected parts of the country,” Mr Chirwa said.
ZCF intends to roll out 2,000 solar-powered milling units which will be received from a  Chinese manufacturer  in batches across the country.
About 100 out of a total of 2,000 units were expected in the country for onward installation by mid January.
Out of the 100 milling units that have arrived in the country three have already been installed each in Solwezi North-Western Province, Luwingu and Kasama  in Northern Province.
He said that the 48 units which were already in Kasama would be installed in Northern and Muchinga Provinces.
The milling plant project was aimed at stabilising the cost of mealie-meal in the country and protecting consumers from being exploited by millers.