Zambia’s Government has recently announced that seven energy companies have been shortlisted for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) projects in two different zones of the country that has not been disclosed yet.
The tender’s winner will be announced in November, 2015 and will be in charge of developing the first PV grid in Zambia as part of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Scaling Solar Programme that seeks to mitigate the country’s power shortage estimated in 560 MW.
Zambia’s Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma, explained that the first 50 MW will be added to the country’s generation capacity by March, 2016.
Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu, explained that the Government is resolved to increase the use of renewable energy technologies as PV projects to end with the current hydro power shortages in the country.
According to Bloomberg, the current hydro power shortage is mainly product of Lake Kariba’s low water levels where the hydropower plants take their main resource from for power generation.
Hydro power accounts for 92% of the total installed capacity and 99% of the total electricity generated in Zambia.
The IFC plans to add to the current 1,967 MW of Zambia’s installed generation capacity a total of 100 MW within the next two years.
