Load Shedding Expected To Start Reducing

Power utility company ZESCO has announced that it will start reducing the amount of load shedding considerably from November and December this year, following the completion of the Kafue Gorge Lower project and in anticipation of better rainfall.

ZESCO Strategy and Corporate Services Director Patrick Mwila said in an interview that a new machine, capable of producing 150 megawatts, will be operational by November 2020. 

He added that water flow had been better this year compared to 2019, but that it had been a challenge to catch up at a faster rate because of the lower starting-off point caused by severe droughts. 

Mr Mwila said importing power from ESCOM (the Malawian state-owned power company)  had allowed the utility to cushion the impact of the power deficit, resulting from the 2018/2019 droughts, which almost emptied reservoirs. 

He called on Zambians to embrace smart meters as a solution not only to load shedding but detecting faults in the grid as well. He said ZESCO would be working to help Zambians embrace the concept of a smart grid.