Zambia recorded a power supply deficit of up to 810 megawatts in March 2020, as stated in a press brief by Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Director of Corporate Services. This amounted to a deficit increase of about 20 percent from September previous year, going against a rising annual demand of about 4 percent. With energy being an essential aspect of life, a deficiency would pose a threat to national and individual development.
The country has over four main used sources of energy, with most industries and urban populations dependent on hydro-electricity. Majority of the population still relies on wood fuel especially for domestic purposes. As such, mass deforestation, and eventually climate change seems to weigh heavy on the energy sector. In the last two years, the country had been subjected to load shedding due to droughts. This made electricity users beneficiaries of wood fuel as well. With the uncertainties in weather patterns, it is only right to adopt mitigation measures that would keep energy supply at par even in times of droughts. These include the increase in usage of solar or wind energy, and exploring the option of using pumped hydro power stations.
According to the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) energy series, 70 percent of the population is dependent on wood fuel, with 14 percent using hydroelectricity, 12 percent on petroleum, and 2 percent for coal and other sources. The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation increased tariffs in 2020 by a weighted average of 113 percent, implying a barrier to affordability, that could position people in a dual usage of hydro and wood fuel. Aside from the environmental effects that come with wood fuels, they have the ability to deteriorate health through the harmful emissions produced. High tariffs also increase the operational costs of businesses, who would have to spend more on electricity charges. When the country experienced load shedding of up to 16 hours, only small businesses that could afford generators were still able to operate normally but at a cost.
To successfully diversify the energy sector, there is a need to make the alternative sources of energy reliable and sustainable. The study of geographic indicators such as wind speed or sunshine intensity could help identify what power generating methods would be at optimum in a designated area. This would help cater for the energy needs of the under-served, as the country is trying to meet the demand for hydro-electricity.
A report by the PMRC energy series reviewed that; Zambia has a solar potential of 3000 sunshine hours annually; wind energy enough to supply 15000 average households with electricity; and a hydro potential of 6000 megawatts still largely untapped. This just shows the immense investment and business opportunities available for exploring in the energy sector. Inasmuch as the country has a number of hot springs, generating geothermal energy would require heavy investments, but remains another available option.
The country has seen an encouraging response to alternative sources of clean energy such as solar. Firms such as Vitalite and WidEnergy provide; clean and renewable energy, home solar systems, and a number of products and services that are friendly to the environment. The north western province also has an independent hydropower power company, Zengamina, that serves the people of Ikelenge. These have helped to meet the needs of the under-served especially in rural areas. The government has also made efforts to substantiate the power deficit through the building of another hydro power plant in Kafue Gorge. However, the question still remains as to whether this would be enough to cushion the needs of people in case of a similar deficit as caused by the drought.
Generally, the energy sector will not thrive without investments directed at creating affordable, sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply. The country has the potential to produce over 6000 megawatts of hydro, and still has capacity for expanding energy supply through adoption of energy diversification projects. This would help keep economic activities functioning at their best. The use of wood fuels could also be opposed by alternative non-charcoal cooking methods such as gas cookers, solar stoves or bio-charcoal that are friendly to the environment. The use of clean energy is one of the ways our energy needs could be met whilst preserving our natural environment. To bring about this switch to clean energy, there is a need for enhanced awareness creation and viable partnerships between supplying companies or financial institutions, to allow for easy access of these commodities at a lower cost.
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