More investment needed in power sector in Zambia: official

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA - There is need for more investment into the power sector as demand for power in the southern Africa region is high, Zambian Minister of Energy and Water Development Felix Mutati said recently.

Speaking at a Structuring, Financing for Major Hydroelectric and Transmission Investments meeting in the capital Lusaka, Mutati noted that energy supply remained the most needed infrastructure in most parts of the country.

The minister said because the Zambian economy has grown positively with inflation rates coming down and the mining sector improving, power demands are expanding hence more resources should be pumped into improving the energy sector.

Zambia's inflation rate in April has dropped to 9.4 percent from 18.6 percent a year ago, recording a 30-year low, mainly due to the write-off of foreign debt in the year 2005 and the windfall of copper exports driven by the high price on the international market.

The minister said the local utility company Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has since worked out modalities to address the issue of power supply which is still a challenge to the economic development of the poor southern African country.

Meanwhile, World Bank country representative Ohene Nyanin said new and significant increases in power generation, transmission and distribution capacities are needed in support of the projected economic growth.

Nyanin said there is need for the development partners such as financial institutions to come on board and help improve the energy sector.