Government has paid $27 million to Eskom of South Africa for the importation of 300 megawatts of electricity.

Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu has told reporters in Lusaka this morning that a bank transfer of the amount to Eskom was made today.

Dr Ng’andu however said he is not sure which day the power will start coming to Zambia but assured that state power utility company Zesco were on top of things to ensure the imported 300 megawatts of power comes in as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Dr Ng’andu also revealed that Maamba collieries will be paid part of the 20 million us dollars owed to the thermal power plant by ZESCO.

He said the balance will be paid in the course of next week so that the power plant resumes its normal capacity supply of 300 megawatts of electricity unlike the current situation where the company is operating at half capacity and only providing 150 megawatts of power to the national grid.

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