Drought-Driven Energy Crisis Prompts Government’s Solar Push

Government says a number of solar grids are being earmarked for construction around the country as a response to the current energy crisis.

Speaking in an interview with Money News, Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says government is on course over the construction of Maamba Collieries Phase II 300 Megawatts of power, hence the President’s pronouncements over solar explosion are beginning to materialize in a more meaningful way and more investments are expected in that particular area.

Mr. Mweetwa notes that President Hakainde Hichilema has initiated a robust response to the drought situation particularly in the energy sector, such as the zero rating of implements to do with solar in the national budget.

He has cited the launch of the Open Access Regime, which allows private sector players to construct mini grids to generate power for their use and sale the surplus to ZESCO, as some of the policies that government has put in place to mitigate the energy challenges.

Mr. Mweetwa has insisted that the current economic situation is not as a result of management of the economy but the drought.

Mr. Mweetwa was responding to calls by stakeholders for government to convene an Economic Indaba to address the current energy crisis among other economic challenges.