Shiwang’andu. June 21, 2024, ZANIS—
KAMRA Investment Limited has unveiled a USD$100 million Solar Energy generation investment in the Mukwikile area of Shiwang’andu district of Muchinga Province.
The project will generate 100 megawatts of electricity to supply nearby secondary schools, health facilities, institutions and homes.
Company Director Katyala Maine unveiled the 100-million-dollar solar power project investment yesterday during the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting.
Mr Maine told the DDCC members that his company has partnered with two European companies that have officially agreed to pump in 100 million dollars in solar energy generation.
Mr Maine explained that once the project is operationalised, the company will create 150 permanent jobs with specific skills.
He explained that the project will adhere to Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) regulations over environmental sustainability issues and will implement smart agriculture through the wheat outgrowing scheme alongside the solar power generation project.
Reacting to the presentation from KAMRA, Shiwang’andu Council Secretary Isaac Mwale said the project has come at a better time when the government is encouraging more investment in energy generation and distribution.
Mr Mwale added that the 8th National Development Plan strategy number six emphasises the need to bring more players in the energy sector for national economic growth through enhanced power generation.
Meanwhile, Mr Kelvin Mubanga of Kaltech Consultancy undertaking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment said the solar power project document has taken into consideration the Renewable Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) policy of 2015 to reduce dependency on hydro power.
He further elaborated that environmental protection issues will be prioritized, including the introduction of a bio-digester on site to treat wastewater and prevent contamination of natural water bodies around the project.
The DDCC members approved the project and emphasized the importance of the investor fulfilling the mandatory Community Social Responsibility outlined in the project document.
KAMRA is expected to implement phase one of its solar plant in Siwang’andu on 100 hectares of land by December this year while power generation is expected to start next year after the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has conducted all its assessments.
Muchinga Province is located in the northeast of the country and was created in the year 2011 after detaching it from mother province – Northern Province. The name of the province originates from the Muchinga Escarpment; on which it predominantly sits. The province elongates from southwest to northeast and is located on both sides of the Muchinga Mountains (Muchinga Escarpment).
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