ZESCO


ZESCO is a state-owned power company in Zambia. It is Zambia's largest power company producing about 80% of the electricity consumed in the country. ZESCO represents Zambia in the Southern African Power Pool.

Operations

The company operates 9 hydropower stations with a combined capacity of 2,217.5 MW and eight small thermal power plants with a combined capacity of 11.3 MW resulting in a total installed capacity of 2,228.8 MW.
The company also owns and operates power distribution and transmission lines of 9,975 km.
ZESCO has formed power purchase agreements with private companies that own power plants in Zambia. It purchases the power produced and feeds is directly into the national grid. GL Africa Energy provides the national grid through ZESCO with over 105 MW of power under this agreement.

Power stations

The national grid in Zambia only extends to some parts of the country. For example, it ends from the Ikelenge area around Kalene Hill in the extreme northwest, and as of 2008 ZESCO had no plans to provide power to this remote area. In response, some small-scale private operations have been established such as the Zengamina 700 KW hydroelectric generator. The Energy Regulation Board is encouraging private investment in hydroelectric power generation in view of the power deficit.