Zesco anticipates Luapula transformation
By Charles Chisala in Mansa
ZESCO Limited has assured the people of Luapula Province that the commissioning of the historic Mansa Solar Project next month does not mean it has abandoned hydro power as a source of energy in the region.
Managing director Justine Loongo said in Mansa Friday the solar plant, which is expected to generate 50 megawatts of electricity at full capacity, reflects the need for the country to diversify and reduce the risk of its energy mix.
Loongo was speaking during a town hall meeting with civic leaders and a chief at Mansa Municipal Council as part of Zesco’s ongoing engagements with stakeholders to explain what it is doing to address the country’s crippling electricity crisis.
“This does not signal a departure from hydro-power; instead it reflects Zambia’s need to diversify, strengthen and de-risk its energy mix. A balanced portfolio ensures that when nature strikes, as we have experienced, or when other external shocks occur, our entire energy system does not collapse but continues powering development,” he said.
Loongo said the Mansa 50MW Solar Project would transform the district’s as well as the province’s electricity supply stability and unlock the region’s development potential.
He described the project as bold and the first of its kind in Zambia from which the national power utility would learn important lessons on how to address power vulnerability while creating self-sufficiency at the provincial level.
“The Mansa 50MW power project will fundamentally transform the stability and reliability of electricity supply in both the district and the province,” Loongo said.
“We are extremely proud that the bold, first-of-its-kind Zesco-driven solar initiative is happening right here in Mansa, a district that has long endured electricity and power quality issues leading to suppressed demand.”
He noted that the people of Mansa had already begun reaping the benefits through employment and participation of the local business community in the construction and installation phase.
“Even before completion, the project has already begun changing creating over 300 jobs and unlocking further opportunities for local business participating through the trickle-down effect,” Loongo said.
He thanked the civic leaders and Chief Chisunka of the Ushi people of Mansa for attending the meeting.
During the engagement, director for distribution and customer service Given Moonde made a presentation on the short-term, medium-term and long-term measures the company had put in place and was implementing to address Zambia’s electricity deficit.
