ESTHER MSETEKA, Lusaka
GOVERNMENT has been urged to quickly finalise the power cost of service study to enhance predictability and consistency around electricity increments.
In the 2017 national budget, Government announced intentions to move to cost-reflective tariffs in the electricity sub-sector, as a way of encouraging investment, and also approved a 75 percent increment in electricity tariffs, which was done in two phases.
But Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) says the 75 percent increment in less than 12 months was too high and has had negative implications on the operations of the industry.
ZAM chief executive officer Chipego Zulu has advised Government to develop an electricity tariff increment road map that will help to provide clear guidelines on the cost of energy in the country.
Making proposals for the 2019 budget, Mrs Zulu said the road map will enable Government to establish how enhanced industrialisation will be supported by increased investments in the energy sector, thereby avoiding another power deficit http://epaper.daily-mail.co.zm/