Mozambique Energy: “Electricity exports to Zambia to end by 2018 1Q” – Zesco senior official

Zambia’s electricity company Zesco says it plans to stop importing electricity from Mozambique in the first quarter of 2018.

According to Zesco communications officer Webster Musonda, the country’s energy production has improved and will largely meet energy needs. “Overall, we will be able to meet demand, and imports on a regular basis will end in the first quarter of next year. But we will continue to import energy to meet peak demand,” he said.

There will be no rationing in the supply of energy, executive director Victor Mundende promised. Zambia, the continent’s second-largest copper producer, has enough water in its dams to provide the necessary energy. Electricity demand is 2,030 MW and national electrical power capacity is just below 2,400 MW.

In 2016, the drop in water levels in the dams caused by the drought saw the national energy deficit rise to 1,000 MW. Zambia’s finance ministry is hoping for a recovery in the economy after a growth of only 3.6 percent last year caused by lower copper prices, load shedding, inflation and lack of liquidity slowing down the progress of new projects.  (By Gwladys Johnson; Source: Agence Ecofin)