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China-Africa Trade Information Service
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The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is in talks with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to develop and set up solar power plants in various parts of Zambia.
And Construction works for the 60 million united states dollar Bangweulu 54-megawatt solar plant have advanced, with works reaching 80 percent.
IDC Group Chief Executive Officer Mateyo Kaluba says the corporation will continue rolling out solar projects until it reaches the intended target of 6-hundred megawatts of solar energy.
Mr. Kaluba told ZNBC News in an interview shortly after touring the Bangweulu Solar Plant in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone, that the solar project will diversify the country’s energy sector.
He stated that IDC plans to put up two solar power projects in Central Province, One on the Copperbelt and the other in Eastern Province.
Mr. Kaluba is however hopeful that the 2-hundred megawatts solar energy will reach financial closure by mid-2019.He said so far 8-hundred and 50 people are working on site at the Bangweulu Solar Power plant of which 6- hundred are Zambians.
And Neoen Country Director Mathieu Legouix said the construction of the site started last year.Mr. Legouix said the 60-Million-dollar project is being financed through a combination of equity and debt.He said the Bangweulu Solar Power plant will soon be providing ZESCO with cheap solar electricity at Six cents per kilo watt hour for 25 years.