Government, through the Rural
Electrification Authority (REA), will next year start the development of a
590KW Kasanjiku Mini-Hydro power station in Mwinilunga district in
North-Western province.
Energy and Water Development Deputy
Minister, Charles Zulu, says the project will cost ten million United States
Dollars.
Mr Zulu says over 23,000 local people
are expected to benefit from the project once it is completed.
The Deputy Minister said this when he
officially commissioned a K2.6 million Situmbeko Rural Electrification Project
at Kalala Primary School in Chibombo.
Mr Zulu said government will not
relent in its effort to ensure that more people in rural areas have access to
reliable sources of energy such as electricity.
He said government has continued to
electrify as many rural areas as possible because it is aware that electricity
is one of the catalysts for socio – economic development.
Mr Zulu said access to electricity
does not only increase economic growth, but it also helps to fight poverty
especially in rural areas.
And REA Chief Executive Officer,
Geoffrey Musonda, said several government and private facilities in the area
have since been electrified under the same project.
Mr Musonda urged beneficiaries in the
area to use electricity productively and avoid illegal connections.
Meanwhile, Chieftainess Mungule has
thanked government for connecting part of her chiefdom to the national
electricity grid.
The traditional leader also called on
government to ensure that more schools in her chiefdom are connected to
electricity, saying this will ensure that pupils learn computer lessons without
challenges.
The Situmbeko Project is among the
2014 Grid Extension Projects whose implementation started in the latter part of
last year at a total cost of K55 million.
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