ZESCO
| Public | |
| Industry | electricity |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Lusaka, Zambia |
Key people | num_employees = 3,600 (2007) |
| Revenue | US$ 250 million (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 owns 7 hydropower stations[1] with a combined capacity of 1,752 megawatts (2,349,000 hp) and one thermal power plants of 8 megawatts (11,000 hp) resulting a total installed capacity of 1,760 megawatts (2,360,000 hp) for ZESCO. The company also has power distribution and transmission lines of 9,975 km.
Power stations
- Kafue Gorge Upper Power Station, 990 megawatts (1,330,000 hp)
- Kariba Dam North Power Station, 720 megawatts (970,000 hp) (upgrading to 1080 MW scheduled finished December 2012)
- Victoria Falls Power Station, 108 megawatts (145,000 hp)
- Four smaller hydropower stations: Lusiwasi (12 megawatts (16,000 hp)), Musonda Falls (5 megawatts (6,700 hp)), Chishimba Falls (6 megawatts (8,000 hp)) and Lunzua (750 kilowatts (1,010 hp)). These usually do not have enough water storage to operate in the dry season.
A new station at the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam with 120 megawatts (160,000 hp) capacity is due in 2013.
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
- ↑ ZESCO hydropower stations
- ↑ "Zengamina Hydro Project". North West Zambia Development Trust. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
- ↑ "ERB Approves Zengamina Tariffs". The Energy Regulator (SECOND ed.). 2008. Retrieved 2011-12-16.