Solar Grid for Rural Zambia

From : The Livingstone Weekly

By : Jill Staden

22 July 2012

The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has commenced the construction of Zambia’s first ever solar mini- grid for the Mpanta fishing community on the shores of Lake Bangweulu.

The 60 KW grid will power the households of about 6,000 people in a cluster of villages as well as their nursery and basic schools, health centre, market, harbour depots, churches and street lighting. The contractor, Power link Solutions, started work in June – and is expected to finish within 14 weeks. The K6.3 billion project is partly financed by a loan from the Development Bank of Zambia. Solar mini-grids along with mini-hydro power stations and biomass power stations are some of the means by which REA seeks to achieve rural electrification.