Zambia’s Heavy Load Shedding Sparks Concerns

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) in Zambia has expressed concern at the heavy load shedding scheduled announced by state utility Zesco for June.

Zesco plans to have four-hour load shedding sessions daily in a bid to combat the low water levels in the country’s reservoirs. However CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo has warned that the development is likely to lead to further economic deterioration.

Mwaipopo has expressed concern that the biggest victims will be small and medium sized businesses that depend on electricity but that are critical to the economy. For those firms unable to switch to alternative sources of energy, decrease in revenues and productivity is expected with a negative knock-on impact for economic growth and job creation.

He also warned that the plans for load shedding could see some firm choose to lay-off some workers in a bid to combat losses.

Mwaipopo advised government that it should look to increase investment in alternatives such as solar and biofuels in order to ensure sustainable and sufficient supply in the future. He also advised Zesco to implement the load shedding scheduled at times of day outside of busy working hours.