Home » Zambia May Import 300 MW of Power from South Africa’s Eskom

Zambia May Import 300 MW of Power from South Africa’s Eskom

LUSAKA – Zambia is in talks with South African power utility Eskom to import 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity, the country’s Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa said on Tuesday. While South Africa itself has been struggling to generate enough power, with threats of further load shedding (power cuts) – Zambia is desperate with a power deficit […]

By Reuters
17-09-19 18:00
in Business

LUSAKA – Zambia is in talks with South African power utility Eskom to import 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity, the country’s Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa said on Tuesday.

Electricity pylons carrying power from Koeberg nuclear power plant are seen in Cape Town, South Africa July 11, 2018. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

While South Africa itself has been struggling to generate enough power, with threats of further load shedding (power cuts) – Zambia is desperate with a power deficit of more than 750 MW… because of low water levels at hydropower dams.

Nkhuwa gave no timeframe for when imports could start.

“(Retail prices) will be maybe double the amount because we are paying half the amount that we are supposed to pay for electricity,” Nkhuwa said.

Zambia has been rationing power after a severe drought hit its hydropower sector.

Nkhuwa said the government also planned to send a delegation to Mozambique to negotiate a new power-purchase agreement.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Catherine Evans and Dale Hudson)