ZESCO

For the Zambian football team, see ZESCO United F.C.
ZESCO
Public
Industry Electricity Generation and Supply
Founded 1970
Headquarters Lusaka, Zambia
Revenue US$ 250 million (2007)
Number of employees
3,600 (2007)
Parent state owned
Website www.zesco.co.zm

ZESCO (formerly known as Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited) is a state-owned power company in Zambia. It is Zambia's largest power company producing about 80% of the electricity consumed in the country. ZESCO represents Zambia in the Southern African Power Pool.

Operations

The company operates 9 hydropower stations with a combined capacity of 2,217.5 MW and eight small thermal power plants with a combined capacity of 11.3 MW resulting in a total installed capacity of 2,228.8 MW.[1]

The company also owns and operates power distribution and transmission lines of 9,975 km.

Power stations

A new station at the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam with 120 MW capacity is due for commissioning in 2015 or 2016.

Limitations

The national grid in Zambia only extends to some parts of the country. For example, it ends 380 kilometres (240 mi) from the Ikelenge area around Kalene Hill in the extreme northwest, and as of 2008 ZESCO had no plans to provide power to this remote area. In response, some small-scale private operations have been established such as the Zengamina 700KW hydro generator.[2] The Energy Regulation Board is encouraging private investment in hydro power generation in view of the power deficit.[3]

References

Notes

  1. Energy Sector Report 2014 (PDF) (Report). Energy Regulation Board, Zambia. 2015.
  2. "Zengamina Hydro Project". North West Zambia Development Trust. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  3. "ERB Approves Zengamina Tariffs" (PDF). The Energy Regulator (SECOND ed.). 2008. Retrieved 2011-12-16.


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