Engineering, management and specialist technical services company Aurecon will provide engineering, design and construction supervision services for Zambia Electricity Supply Commission’s (Zesco’s) $200-million World Bank-funded Lusaka transmission and distribution rehabilitation project.

Lusaka’s electricity demand has grown at 6% a year over the past ten years, with demand outstripping installed capacity.

“We are excited to work with Zesco to increase the capacity and improve the reliability of Lusaka’s electricity transmission and distribution system for the community.

“The creation of this transmission and distribution infrastructure will ensure the long-term sustainable operation of the network,” Aurecon project leader Anton Harmse said.  

Using experience gained on projects previously executed for Zesco and the World Bank, the Aurecon project team would identify remedial or preventive measures that could optimise the benefits of the system upgrades.

“The large number of sub-projects and the sequential implementation of the various components of the project will require significant effort during the project planning and scheduling stages,” Harmse pointed out. 

The project, which would be completed in 2019, would be carried out in three phases.

The first phase, estimated to cost about $106-million, would see the rehabilitation of the 132 kV and 88 kV transmission network in the Lusaka area, which would include the upgrade of four transmission lines, the construction of three new substations and the replacement of 11 kV switchgear in various locations.

The $94-million second phase would entail the rehabilitation of the 33 kV and 11 kV distribution network in the Lusaka area and would include the construction of three new substations and upgrades to existing substations.

The $10-million third phase would include technical assistance and project supervision.

ZAMBIA ELECTRICITY
Electricity was the second most important energy source in Zambia after wood fuel, providing 14% of the national energy supply. The mining industry accounted for about 50% of national electricity consumption followed by service industries and residential customers at 36%.

The main source of electricity generation was hydropower.

According to the World Bank, Zambia had installed generation capacity of about 1 849 MW in 2013, comprising 1 841 MW hydropower and 8 MW diesel power, representing 99% and 1% of the generation mix respectively.

“Shortages or poor quality of electricity supply and lack of access to electricity services have an adverse impact on the national economy. Over the decade to 2010, these factors reduced the per capita growth rate in Zambia by more than 0.1 percentage points,” the World Bank reported, adding that the country was experiencing power shortages and load-shedding.

In 2013, just over 47% of the population in urban and peri-urban areas and only 3% in rural areas had access to electricity. Zesco served about 511 000 customers, with over 390 000 using prepaid meters.