NAN-F-26
Power
Lusaka, April 26, 2017 (Xinhua/NAN) Zambia’s power utility on Wednesday said that it had reduced electricity rationing after improvements in the generation capacity.
One of the nation’s private electrical company, Zeco Ltd. introduced electricity rationing in June 2015 after the country was hit by a power deficit caused by low water levels in its key reservoirs due to poor rains.
Customers were subjected to electricity rationing of up to eight hours, a move that affected industries and forced some mining firms to downsize on their operations.
Mr Henry Kapata, the company’s spokesperson said that electricity rationing had been reduced considerably following an improvement in the water levels.
He said the power cuts customers were experiencing in some cases was mainly due to faults and maintenance works.
“Do you experience load shedding in your area, actually it is true that to some extent load shedding has reduced significantly,” he said.
Minister of Energy David Mabumba also confirmed that power cuts have significantly reduced due to the good rains experienced in the current season.
He said in an interview with the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation that the government has also reduced on power inputs from neighbouring countries.
Zambia’s electricity generation plunged in 2015 due to El Nino weather phenomenon.
About 90 per cent of Zambia’s electricity comes from hydro. (Xinhua/NAN)
OYE/GY
=======
Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf