PHILIP CHISALU
Lusaka
THE solar industry is by July this year poised to contribute about 500 megawatts (MW) to the country’s alternative source of power through the various projects in the pipeline.
In an interview, Solar Industry Association (SIAZ) president Matanda Mwewa attributed the delay to attain 1,000MW to certain bottlenecks in the line of implementation.
“I am confident that by July, we should have at least 500MW connected to the grid if all that has been put in place comes through.
“Probably, if Government does well, we can even see more than 500MW being connected with all these projects that have been launched,” he said.
Mr Mwewa noted that currently, the country has managed about 125MW of solar power out of the 1,000MW target.
“From our calculation and what we have seen, currently, there is only about 125 megawatts that has been connected to the grid. And this includes Chisamba 100MW and the Mailo-Serenje project – the 25MW, which was being constructed under Solar Century.
“I am hopeful that, probably, we will see one more project, in fact, it’s a 50MW in Luapula, which will be connected to the grid, so we will have a total of about 175MW being connected.”
In its push to attain 1,000MW of solar power, last month, Government, through Zesco Limited, launched the construction of an US$80 million 100MW photovoltaic solar power plant in Siavonga District, Southern Province, and a US$90 million 100MW Kafue Gorge Lower solar plant in Chirundu District…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
