ZESCO to compensate people affected with expansion of Lunzua power station

ZESCO says it will soon construct houses, toilets and sink boreholes for the affected persons in the on-going expansion of the Lunzua Hydro Power Station in Mbala district in Northern Province.

ZESCO Spokesperson Henry Kapata has also stated a rural health centre with two houses, a 1 by 3 classroom block and two toilets will also be constructed for the people in Lunzua area.

Mr Kapata further disclosed that the power utility company will rehabilitate an existing 1 by 4 classroom block at one of the local schools in the area.

He told ZANIS in an interview today that Lunzua Hydro Power station is being expanded from its initial 0.75 megawatts to 14.8 megawatts.

Mr Kapata explained that the Lunzua hydro power station which was built in 1960 had the capacity to only carter for a number of locals in Mbala and Mpulungu districts.

He said the demand capacity now become a challenge to due to the increasing demand of power in the area.

“The demand for power in Mbala and Mpulungu districts has now risen and the equipment at Lunzua is obsolete and cannot be connected to the national grid and so ZESCO has built 85 percent of the new Lunzua hydro power station with the capacity of 14.8 megawatts,” he said.

And Mr Kapata has disclosed that the $52 million power project is expected to be completed by September this year and will be connected to the national grid.

He said once completed, the project will also improve the quality of power supply in Mbala, Mpulungu and the surrounding areas.