State-owned Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (Zesco) aimed to export its 200 MW to 300 MW surplus energy after an ambitious $5-billion generation and transmission expansion brought its capacity to over 2 200 MW.
Zesco transmission development director Christopher Mubemba said the “land-linked” country’s geographical position provided an opportunity to link its national grid to its eight neighbouring countries over the next three to five years.
He said work was under way to upgrade and build new power transmission lines to provide electricity in an effort to reclaim its 1980s status as a net exporter.
A presentation by Zesco MD Cyoriam Chitundu showed that net exports to Namibia, the DRC and Botswana were roughly 5% of total generation and, with the expansions and new projects, the nation would be able to supply electricity to its other power-strained neighbours.
These include Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi and Angola.
By: Natasha Odendaal
For the full article read here: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/zambia-expands-energy-capacity-eyes-export-of-power-in-3-years-2014-03-11/rep_id:3182
