Kamfinsa Constituency Member of Parliament Christopher Kang’ombe asserts that there are no legal barriers in Zambia preventing mining or industrial companies from establishing their own power generation plants to fulfill their electricity needs.
Mr. Kang’ombe has highlighted the projected national electricity demands in megawatts (MW), as estimated by the Ministry of Energy. With a baseline demand of 2, 456MW in 2020, the projections indicate a steady increase over the coming decades: 3, 338MW by 2025, 5, 432MW by 2030, 8, 624MW by 2040, and 11, 039MW by 2050.
The lawmaker points out the financial constraints faced by ZESCO in producing all the required electricity to meet these projections. As a solution, Mr. Kang’ombe suggests that the Ministry of Energy should encourage mining companies to establish their own power generation plants.
He acknowledges that this initiative would incur significant costs, including conducting feasibility studies, selecting appropriate technology, and engaging consulting and engineering firms for design and construction.
Mr. Kang’ombe however argues that the long-term benefits of such investment would outweigh the initial expenses, ensuring a more reliable and sustainable power supply for both the mining sector and the nation as a whole.
