- Stay Connected
Socialize
Lungu: Power Black-Out To End In March 2016
ZAMBIA will by March next year have sufficient power to even export, President Lungu has assured.
And the President has told Barrick Gold Corporation, the parent company of Lumwana Mine, that operations will not be affected because Government is working hard to have enough power.
Addressing more than 100 Zambians resident in New York at the embassy on Wednesday, President Lungu said alternative sources of energy are being explored to ensure sufficient supply.
He said Maamba Collieries will offload 150 megawatts (MW) in January and another 150 MW by June to supplement other sources that Government would secure.
The President said Government is in a “fast-forward mode” to restore normalcy to electricity supply.
Zesco is restricting supply for long hours for both domestic and industrial consumers.
Mr Lungu said Government is working on modalities of exploring other sources of energy instead of restricting itself to hydro-power, the country’s only major source.
The alternatives are solar, wind and geo-thermal sources.
“Right now as I am talking to you, people are working 24/7 in Maamba to ensure that we get 150 megawatts by January. Come June next year, we will get 300 megawatts from that source alone,” Mr Lungu said.
He invited Zambians to come back home and invest as there would be enough power supply to their business entities.
And speaking when he held talks with Barrick Gold Corporation president Kelvin Dushnisky, Mr Lungu said effects of climate change have “taught Government a lesson not to entirely depend on hydro -power”.
He told Mr Dushnisky that although it was his prayer that the next rainy season would resolve the problem, Government has a strategy of getting power from other sources.
“So, we are not just sitting back waiting for God to give us rain. We are doing whatever we can within our means to ensure that there is enough power, rain or no rain,” Mr Lungu said.
He noted that Zambia is not the only country facing challenges of power in the region.
South Africa, one of Africa’s biggest economies, also has load shedding.
Mr Lungu said some countries have survived on other sources of energy and, as such, there is nothing that would stop Zambia from using a similar strategy.
The President said the mining industry has not been at its best because of the plummeting price of copper.
Mr Dushinisky, who was accompanied by consultant Mike Regan, said Lumwana appreciates the partnership with Government since Mr Lungu assumed office.
He said the company is happy with the spirit of dialogue and transparency.
He sympathised with the President over the power deficit and pledged that Lumwana would work with maximum efficiency with the available power to maintain production.
Posted by Editor
on October 2, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Bauze
October 2, 2015 at 4:26 am
So he can talk after all. I thought he couldn’t articulate these issues with BBC. Let him come back home and address those issues with those who are affected.
kakolwe
October 2, 2015 at 5:45 am
Are you sure that he will sort it out by sitting at home and talking to you about the fresh kapenta gone rotten because of load shedding?
Incognito
October 2, 2015 at 4:31 am
He needs to go back to Zambia and sort out the mess from their. He’s now over staying his welcome.
I wonder if Obama is aware this chap didn’t go back to the village after the meeting ended. Some one remind Lungu he has a country to run.
kakolwe
October 2, 2015 at 5:51 am
Cry of a crazy woman (on phone to her husband):
“At home there is no food and you are busy moving about carelessly while your children are hungry”
The moment he steps in, ladden with all manner of goodies & cash, she is first to stuff an apple into her mouth without finding out if it was swollen or not!
Hello Haters
October 2, 2015 at 6:32 am
Brace yourselves for “swollen apples” from the big apple, kaloba pamulu.
Ganja Man
October 2, 2015 at 9:20 pm
Muleikalafye if you’ve nothing to contribute
Hello Haters
October 2, 2015 at 5:03 am
Does this president know why south africa is having loadshedding? Does he even know their source of power? If he thinks it has to do with lack of rain, am afraid people surrounding him are giving him wrong data, now i see why he couldn’t go on BBC, with such data it could have been extremely embarrassing for this country.
mwila
October 2, 2015 at 7:20 am
Whats so special abt bbc anyway? I also cancel dinner dates wit beautiful women when sumthin mor important cmz up,aint nun wrong wit dat bra
Hello Haters
October 2, 2015 at 8:39 am
Ok! Mwila the Casanova has spoken.
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 8:05 am
Edgar is just a blank president he’s no idea that South Africa has Nuclear Plants for power generation. That’s the problem when you take like minded idiots to advice you. Comparing Zambia to a Nuclear South Africa is being dull. Just let him fix the mess back home… Oh and leave his silly pimp hats in New York.
Ng'ombe Mbuzi
October 2, 2015 at 10:43 am
You are dull, boring and clueless. Ever ranting on this site try to demean the President.
mwila
October 2, 2015 at 11:34 am
I would luv to hv dat hat,its a very beautiful hat,wish tha president cn giv me 1
Denkete
October 2, 2015 at 5:09 am
Edgar is telling the world what his govt is doing to arrest the power crisis but we still have pipo criticizing. It was actually more important to meet Barrick Gold Corporation president Kelvin Dushnisky and Zambians in diaspora than a BBC journalist. Lungu has solution to the power problem come rain come sun shine. Give credit where it is due bakolwe.
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 8:12 am
How can he say we are having electricity problem like south africa because of rains? South Africa shortage of energy is mainly because of its vast industries and population boom and SA is extending it’s nuclear energy plants to arrest the case. And Zambia? Very far from fixing energy issues.
pf
October 2, 2015 at 9:39 am
@jjb awe kwena ifintu lungu, what a president!!
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 10:24 am
Problem akwata he has little time to research and benchmark with other developing countries how to go about solving issues. Wait till he comes back and see what headlines he will hit… very petty possibly comment on leakages.
Ng'ombe Mbuzi
October 2, 2015 at 10:31 am
Senseless
kayula
October 2, 2015 at 6:32 am
Go round the country see how villages are changing into towns and be wise. MMD avoided this route of construction because they knew that it will affect the economy. when kaunda started building our economy was affected . Soon and very soon Zambia will be a better place.
DDK
October 2, 2015 at 7:32 am
Am surprised that online media is not carry ZESCO’s notice to increase power by over 200%. This country is heading for a major disaster.
true
October 2, 2015 at 8:02 am
He must be one of the best President Zambia will ever have.Only that he inherited a demand pull inflation situation and a country which has not diversified economically.
i. Very consulting
ii. level headed
iii. working underground than always shouting on top of the hill
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 8:23 am
Ati level headed
Mailon
October 2, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Aine! he books a chaterred plane for$300,000 dollars embacks on silly road works and the moron called True calls him level headed whilst technocats like Kalyalya are pleading for reduction in expenditure.Chishimba Kambwili will one day rule Zambia he should not give up.This must be the dambest nation on Earth,right now waiting for God to fix their self made mess.
Maimbo
October 3, 2015 at 8:40 am
Walasa mune, that is exactly my thoughts. We have become so stupid as a nation that even a dog pretending to be a person can rule us.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
October 3, 2015 at 8:51 am
Wasosa. Those with ears will listen and understand.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
October 2, 2015 at 8:12 am
Kikikikiki the man scared of interviews has spoken via tumfweko. Lungu do not be silly. Zambia will magically have enough power in march and yet you said reason was to do with water levels. So now lungu has become a god for him to be so sure that we will have enough water. Do you see how foolish that looks. You have failed to find X. Let upnd show you. Vote upnd
T.k
October 2, 2015 at 8:17 am
We Zambians we do criticize on anything.Bane tasheniko…The President assumed Office when our Country had problems.I would like to challenge anyone.Who could laugh and swallow food at the same time(wuwinga seka no kumina ichakulya pamuku umo.Ninani?)
Good morning Zambia
GIFT
October 2, 2015 at 8:44 am
Why did Lungu contest election if he knew there were problems in the country.The man promised zambians alot and no wonder we are questioning him.Kambwili was saying Load shedding will end after next year,ZESCO said after two years it will end now Chagwa ati next year.what is wrong with these chaps?
pf
October 2, 2015 at 9:44 am
T.K, as a leader you must take responsibility and not finger pointing….
IF NOT
October 2, 2015 at 8:23 am
What’s so special about BBC interview anyway? Priorities differ if he had other important issues to attend to why waste time with some journalist.
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 9:16 am
Why accept then chicken out? That’s the issue, there alot of logistics put in place including the British Govt readiness to hear from a Zambian president then what do the see… The Zambian president was last seen drinking at a function and listening to sangwapo musicians. What picture does that paint? Do you see the credibility of a Zambian president at stake here? Then you go to the same “whites” asking for a bailout loan?
billz
October 2, 2015 at 12:17 pm
I beg to differ @jjb my friend you make a valid aguement but he doesn’t need to be on bbc to tell the whites what position zambia is in currrently then whats the point in having there diplomats,ambassadors e.t.c you do realise bbc is no different from znbc.Lets not give imperilists too much power there is nothing special about bbc..
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 12:51 pm
When did president Lungu invite ambassadors like Chiluba and KK used to do just to sell the Govt plans to their respective countries? None. Has Lungu held any press conference at state house to address both his people and foreign dignitaries on issues hurting Zambia? Again none! Then how does he communicate his ideas to people? Thru Tumfweko?
Amake Mwana
October 2, 2015 at 9:13 am
2016, vote Hakainde Hichilema for President. Let’s not talk too much. Time for talking has finished it’s now time to act.
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 9:24 am
I wouldn’t agree more we talk Edgar day in day out and the man is still in his honeymoon sorrounded by idiots ati kulanyopolafye kabili ni ba Edgar
kasantana
October 2, 2015 at 9:26 am
ifyabupuba ifi ,I feel like going for a jameson
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 10:30 am
It’s Friday why not, possibly you will find Jameson taking his namesake
Israeli
October 2, 2015 at 9:27 am
@NEZ Lungu z saying gvt z looking into other sources of not just hydro .Bt question z whether this and the chakuti thousand jobs shall be achieved.u see our leaders are jokers and they take us for granted because of too much poverty which has screwed us.
Israeli
October 2, 2015 at 9:28 am
@NEZ Lungu z saying gvt z looking into other sources of not just hydro .Bt question z whether this and the chakuti thousand jobs shall be achieved.u see our leaders are jokers and they take us for granted because of too much poverty which has screwed us.u see.
Mambwe
October 2, 2015 at 10:01 am
NEZ you are a dunderhead didnt the Republic President not say that Maamba will offload 150 mega watts in January and another 150 by June??.We wont buy your useless story that HH will change this economy ,thats why he is afraid to participate in the national prayers because he is a liar.
HAbezu
October 2, 2015 at 10:29 am
Pf govt is winning the elections come next year . I saw in the dream last week and I have never missed a dream in my life.
Israeli
October 2, 2015 at 10:36 am
So always hv nightmares batini?choose what to dream u will die in sleep
Israeli
October 2, 2015 at 10:39 am
So always hv nightmares batini?choose what to dream u will die in sleep.if I were I would stop sleeping
gumu gumu
October 2, 2015 at 10:52 am
Yes because he will be in chawama there will be no loadshedding. HH @ state house 2016.
Denkete
October 2, 2015 at 6:41 pm
I wonder why some people dream with their eyes wide open!!!!!
observer
October 2, 2015 at 11:43 am
BA NEZ BALIBA NA INFERIORITY COMPLEX WHATS SPECIAL ABOUT BBC COMPARED TO OUR GEVAIZIO (ZNBC).
THATS MY PREZIDO UP TO 2021 CHIKUKALIPE CABE OPPO IYE.
Israeli
October 2, 2015 at 12:03 pm
U shud begin by defining inferiority complex first Coz NEZ Neva shunned any BBC interview bt ur president did
Ng'ombe Mbuzi
October 2, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Thinking BBC should be obeyed at all cost is a sign of inferiority/colonial mentality. What is the fuss about BBC? How many of our own local media houses have interviewed the Pesident. Will you make such a fuss if David Cameron declined to be interviewed by ZNBC?
Isaac
October 2, 2015 at 12:33 pm
What a point my brother!
Ng'ombe Mbuzi
October 2, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Thanks Bro!
Da Truth
October 3, 2015 at 6:04 am
Its not about declining an interview!
It is cancelling after accepting! Whatever BBC may be or maybe not. He is the President and that office demands commitment, not being unreliable and unpredictable. If there was some national emergency and he had to leave before time, it would have been no problem at all. But like this, seen drinking and attending a function? Did he not know that there is such a function in his schedule before conmmiting?
zega
October 2, 2015 at 1:01 pm
if you can’t say something good about somebody just shutup nez & jj biden.presido chagwa is de man @ de moment.give him time to work
abakali bakali
October 2, 2015 at 1:15 pm
olala, nice comments let them take hh to bbc,because he is speciallised in talking, he can even shun the sabbath just for talking the only guy who attends functions were b**** is innolved,an employer who does not pay his workers for 4 months,an economist who does not know the meaning of words EVALUATOR or VALUATION,be careful lets not give our country to the under world.
observer
October 2, 2015 at 1:42 pm
WHY ASKING ME TO EXPLAIN THE WORD INFERIORITY COMPLEX,SINCE YOU PEOPLE IN UPND CLAIM TO BE MORE EDUCATED.
ECL HH
LP 65% 25%
CB 80% 15%
NP 80% IO%
LP 85% IO%
CP 55% 30%
MP 80% 10%
SP 15% 85%
WP 25% 65%
EP 80% 15%
NW 65% 38%
2016 RESULTS
Judge Joe Bidden
October 2, 2015 at 2:57 pm
I thought you are smart.
Isaac
October 2, 2015 at 3:23 pm
He is surely smarter than your imaginary thoughts. Do you think your party can win presidency, when you have two and half provinces on your side?? In fact western wont be 25% as he has written, this time around PF will reach as far as 45% in that province.
Daudi Kabwiti
October 2, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Viva president,viva
gode
October 2, 2015 at 3:27 pm
NEZ you always complain about everything that PF does or say.What is it with you and PF?Were you promised employment by HH once in power?now nez, learn to appreciate and give credit where it is due.seriously.
PANDORA'SBOX
October 2, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Ba Nez mulicipuba! plz re-read the article first before you vomit.
the boss
October 2, 2015 at 8:27 pm
lets us player 4 him……
Soche
October 2, 2015 at 9:21 pm
Twachula.So far us in Mansa have entetered day 2 with black out.Awe Mwandi katwishi.This means districts without power will never be connected.
Maimbo
October 3, 2015 at 8:54 am
Fya kuifwala fye mukwai. Just suffer quietly.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
October 2, 2015 at 9:40 pm
You are suffering in darkness most of you here are walking around with creased clothes and yet the poverty in your blood makes you think it’s ok.you say hh won’t attend prayers. Hh attends church everyday. Why should he go to prayers with a chap like lungu who is wasting tax payers money chartering flights to new York meanwhile we Zambians have been on forced starving since pf took over. Very dull pf cadres
destroyer
October 2, 2015 at 10:18 pm
A satanist always a satanist his scared he will manifest his demons of satanism kikikiki
destroyer
October 2, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Bane this is globe economy its not zambia its everywhere so many countries affected including south africa
Big Nose
October 2, 2015 at 10:45 pm
This so called president is telling the zambian people that in march that when he is going to do magic .l now know why he is not coming back the first lady has reviewed Nkandu luo is enjoying the fruits go on professor colopa
Israeli
October 2, 2015 at 11:53 pm
He won’t come back soon Coz he still wondering how the Americans hv managed to build their country so beautiful
Kelly Zee
October 3, 2015 at 12:24 am
Edgar Lungu Is Nt 2blame,these Are Tyms Of Da End,understand Da Book Of Daniel And Revelation,and U’ll Neva Brag Again
Kelly Zee
October 3, 2015 at 12:35 am
Da Presidnt Is Sick He Needs Medical Attention,bt Still Hh Is Nt Our Nxt Presidnt Bt Muliokela!
timeyo
October 3, 2015 at 5:14 am
he will com back next. year viva HH de upcoming president
Judge Joe Bidden
October 3, 2015 at 6:49 am
By the way what is he still doing when things are long over? Still paying hotel bills for all the rugby team he went with? This Lungu awe sure.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
October 3, 2015 at 8:31 am
Lungu has similarities to bozo the clown
Maimbo
October 3, 2015 at 8:56 am
Actually wa ndepula. Are you sure Lungu is not Bozo himself?
Forward we can
October 3, 2015 at 9:55 am
Next year you all should know why you going to vote!and dnt pretend that all is well here,we as a country are in a very serious trouble enconomically.some of you here you have not eaten for some time now!your business are breaking down everyday due to loadsheding.and you want to come out here pretend,be serious the next thing we shall start parking going to our poor villages,now upnd will transform this country believe me you!2016 vote for hh not these vision less fools,remember they re enjoy as we suffer.have u ever been to New york?no u might die without even going pa S.A so vote wisely
The Youth
October 3, 2015 at 4:25 pm
What he’s not telling us is this same exporting of electricity to other countries is what has got us in this state in the first place. Negligence on the part of zesco is another factor because you have installed dunder heads to run its affairs. Stop the BS!
Micheal
October 5, 2015 at 3:52 pm
lets not west time on PF remember that abana besu balekula so let go o luk 4chenge