MWILA NTAMBI, Kawambwa
THREE provinces in the Northern circuit are expected to experience an economic boom soon when Lunzua Power Project builds two stations in

the region which will generate 247 megawatts of electricity at a cost of about US$860 million.
The three provinces are Luapula, Northern and Muchinga.
Building of the power stations on Kalungwishi River between Kawambwa in Luapula Province and Mporokoso in Northern Province is expected to commence by mid next year when the second environmental impact assessment will be completed.
In an interview here, Lunzua hydro power project liaison officer Matthew Lukupwa said construction of the two power stations will significantly reduce outages in the Northern circuit.
“The other benefit is that there will be an economic boom because like for Luapula Province, at the moment, it doesn’t have enough energy to boost economic activities,” Mr Lukupwa said.
He said mining, agriculture mechanisation and tourism are expected to be the main beneficiaries of the increased power supply to the region, which is expected to come with the completion of the Kalungwishi hydro-power station.
Mr Lukupwa said Lunzua Power Project is looking at building a power station which will produce 59MW at Kabwelume Falls and another 151 megawatts at Kundabwika Falls.
Both waterfalls are on Kalungwishi River, which is a shared resource between Luapula and Northern provinces.
Mr Lukupwa said building of the two power stations will take four years and that 1,200 job opportunities will be created during the construction phase.
“After the construction phase, others [workers] will go, we will not maintain everyone, but at least 500 skilled ones will be maintained,” he said.
Mr Lukupwa thanked Government for supporting the project especially by rehabilitating the road leading to areas where the project will be undertaken.