Zambia needs K19 billion to attain 51% universal electrification by 2030 —Kapala

Zambia needs about K19 billion to attain 51percent universal rural electrification by 2030, authorities say.

To this effect, the World Bank has committed US$60 million financing towards the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), aimed at helping it to carry out its mandate effectively.

Energy Minister peter Kapala said this during a symposium for the Rural Electrification Authority and Members of parliament on development and implementation of priority Rural Electrification projects in Lusaka on Thursday.

Kapala, said government has set an ambitious agenda to accelerate electrification across the country and the US$60 million financing will go a long way in actualising this agenda.

He emphasized the need for constituencies to create synergies with REA as it is the only way to achieve universal electrification by the year 2030.

“Government in demonstrating its commitment to the cause, increased the budgetary allocation to REA to nearly $50million for the year 2023. The increment was deliberate, especially that electricity requirements have multiplied with the increased and decentralization of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF),” Kapala said.

He added that government continues to explore ways and means of raising more financing for rural electrification through engagements with cooperating partners such as the World Bank, the European Union and others.

“Since the launch of the Priority Rural Electrification Projects (PREPS), which projects the members of Parliament decide to implement through CDF, REA has signed 27 Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) but is only implementing 2,” Kapala said.

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