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President Hakainde Hichilema has said Independent Power Producers (IPP) should come to Zambia’s aid to cushion the impact of load shedding on businesses and households.
A move aimed at finding lasting solutions to Zambia’s current energy crisis, where ZESCO has effected a 12 hours load shedding plan.
This, Hichilema, said any law that prevented the IPPs from coming on board should be dealt with urgently.
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He said the IPPs should be free to invest in Zambia’s electricity generation.
“IPPs should invest in generation technologies and recover their cost from sale of electricity,” President Hichilema said.
He said the involvement of IPPs could have great help to the country’s energy sector especially when the public sector has no financial capacity for investment.
On Saturday, President Hichilema held a meeting with energy sector stakeholders to discuss issues surrounding load shedding, the Kariba Dam and the water body’s unique problems.
President Hakainde Hichilema addressing energy stakeholders at State House. Picture courtesy of State House
This comes after an uproar from the opposition political parties, businesses and members of the public who have condemned and castigated ZESCO for implementing a 12 hours load shedding schedule, thus having an impact on businesses and households.
In his Facebook post, Hichilema acknowledged that the dam was managed as a common resource owned by two countries, stating that its utilisation was a bilateral matter that required further harmonisation.
He said the challenges of load shedding afford the country an opportunity to provide a long term resolution to a matter that has dogged Zambia for 50 years.
“We acknowledge these problems and will not shy away from finding lasting solutions,” President Hichilema said.
He said in the meeting, he reiterated his Government’s view that IPPs should come on board and that any law that impedes the process should be dealt with urgency.
He directed that ways be explored to cushion the impact of load shedding on small businesses, the farming community, millers and ordinary citizens by expediting the process of bringing private power facilities onto the power grid to mitigate the power shortage.
On Sunday, January 8, 2023, President Hichilema would visit Kariba North Bank and Maamba for an on-site inspection, after which he would reconvene on Monday to review progress.
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