Even as the common Zambians who fall under domestic consumers categories and some commercial entities are being subjected to the 12 hours (half a day) load shedding, the largely foreign Owned copper mining sector who is the largest power consumers in the country are exempted from load shedding.
Domestic and some commercial clients have complained of being treated as second class by their own public utility which seems to respect supply contracts for export and foreign owned Copper mines but abrogates local supply agreements with impunity for domestic customers.
Making the revelations to the Zambian Business Times-ZBT- Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent secretary Mooya Lumamba confirmed that the current load-shedding do not apply to the mining sector.
Lumamba told ZBT that mines have not been disturbed from the effects of the loadshedding and they are still operating on a normal circumstances and are meeting the requirements.
He added that, “Operations are different from one mine to another adding and the amount of power they use is different but what I can assure you is that mines are getting what they need because there is no loadsheding or any restrictions.”
Zambia’s electricity utility company ZESCO has announced that the Corporation has resolved to revert back to the daily load shedding schedule on a rotational basis Country wide a situation that will hinder business for home and other commercial users.
ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani in December 2022 said loadsheding is as a result of reduced power generation being experienced at the Kariba North Bank power station. Mapani explained that load management will be done through rotational schedules countrywide.
