PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pretoria, 27th June,2018
Zambia says it will consider putting up a gas pipeline from gas rich neighbouring countries into Zambia .
Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa says the importation of gas will help Meet the demand for Energy in the country.
Mr. Nkhuwa also said Zambia had heightened both oil and gas exploration and was hopeful these resources will be found and exploited.
Mr Nkhuwa says the private Sector has already shown interest in the construction of a gas pipeline from Mozambique into Zambia.
He mentioned that the alternative energy sources would reduce the demand placed on Hydro electricity supply in Zambia.
Mr Nkhuwa says Zambia needed to interact more with the neighbouring SADC Countries in order to benefit from regional development.
He was speaking at the 37th SADC Meeting of Ministers responsible for Energy and water held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg South Africa.
And Mr Nkhuwa disclosed that the energy inter-connector power project between Zambia and Tanzania has reached 50% completion rate.
He said construction of transmission lines is expected to be completed and operational by the end of the year including the kolowezi inter Connector project with Angola.
Mr Nkhuwa mentioned that the project would help evacuate power from countries of surplus to connect to countries of deficit to stabilise energy demand in the SADC region.
He added that their is need for countries to migrant to smart grid system of power supply and distribution.
He noted that the current system was outdated therefore causing damages to power plants
Meanwhile Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa His Excellency Mr Emmanuel Mwamba says the installed generation capacity was 68324 MW and to meet the deficit in the region,countries needed to invest in generation of power from various sources of power.
He said these include solar, wind and gas to achieve and generate mix that guarantees energy stability in the
Region.
Mrs Naomi Nyawali
First Secretary Press and Public Relations
Zambia High Commission Pretoria South Africa
Press@zambiapretoria.net