Organised private sector want end to haphazard electricity rationing

ZESCO must programme its electricity rationing time table in a way which will minimise negative impact on industries.

Zambia’s power utility company started its load shedding countrywide on Tuesday due to low water levels in the Kariba dam.

Private Sector Development (PSDA) chairperson Yusuf Dodia said ZESCO should engage all stakeholders such as farmers and industries to ensure that a proper time for load shedding was put in place, which does not cripple production.

In an interview in Zambia’s capital Lusaka on Tuesday, Dodia indicated that as much as load shedding was supposed to be implemented, a well programmed exercise would ensure the industries are not badly affected.

“The most important thing we need to consider around load shedding is that it is something that has to be done.

“However, it can be programmed in such a way that it has minimum negative impact and that means ZESCO has to engage with other stakeholders, the private sector, farmers, industries and agree on how the load shedding should be done, that would minimise the negative impact,” he said.

Read more: ZESCO to start scheduled load shedding programme Tuesday

Dodia said the continued engagement with industry players and the members of the public would minimise the negative impact of load shedding.

“So this collective efforts between the service provider and the public can work together to make sure that it is minimised because the amount of electricity usage is direct proportional to the amount of money that is being used and the amount of water that is being pumped into the generating turbines

“So I think that is the best way to deal with it. Off course we have a situation where it is going to be inevitable that some areas must cut off electricity, but it should be done in a predictable way and minimum way so that the impact is minimised as much as possible,” he said.

Read more: ‘Help us plan effectively’, Kitwe Chamber of Commerce begs Zesco for load shedding schedule

ZESCO on Monday this week announced that it had started its planned rotational Load Shedding exercise as water levels in Kariba Reservoir hit critically low levels.

The company indicated that it had experienced a drastic reduction in available water for electricity generation at Kariba North Bank Power Station due to critically reduced water levels in the Kariba reservoir.

“To mitigate the effects of Load Shedding, ZESCO will endeavour to optimise electricity generation at all other power generating stations to the extent that the integrity and safety of the power system is safeguarded.

“ZESCO will continuously notify its customers and the public on the power availability status through various electronic and print media houses,” the company stated.