By Kay M While referring to the recent shutdowns reported in the media, he added that the modern, eco-friendly coal-fired power plant β the only one of its kind in Zambia β is complex, and due to the nature of its operations, needs periodic robust maintenance and specialised technical support, which comes at high costs and cannot be ignored if production is to be assured.
He added that MCL has been facing challenges on this account due to shortfall of funds. In this context, the CEO said the recent tariff revision augurs well for the energy industry in Zambia as it should allow ZESCO to make timely payments to its power suppliers like Maamba Collieries, which would ensure proactive maintenance of the power plant and improve availability of power.
The present shortage of rainfall in the country has reduced the power generation capacity from ZESCO hydro plants drastically, and energy producers like Maamba Collieries, which are not dependent on rainfall, play a key role in the managing energy deficit using resources available in Zambia without recourse to imports. MCL supplying full output capacity, barring scheduled maintenance breaks, can be a reality in the coming months with ZESCO meeting its payment obligations to MCL in full on the back of additional revenue from the tariff revision and the continued support of Government.
Finance Minister Dr. According to information obtained the Civil Aviation Authority the crash happened this morning between and hours about 30 meters from the railway line in the Mosi-oa-tunya National Park heading to the Victoria Falls as they were conducting their routine flights.
Director General Gabriel Lesa disclosed that the authority has dispatched a team of experts from Lusaka to Livingstone to go and conduct preliminary investigations on what led to the crash. Preliminary investigations are expected to commence this Saturday once the team visits the scene. It offers the highest standard of tutoring and the resident commercial pilots are carefully selected and instructor rated.
