REA UPS RURAL ACCESS TO POWER

KETRA KALUNGA writes                                         

@SunZambian

AS GOVERNMENT intensifies efforts to improve the quality of life for rural communities one institution stands out in the noble campaign.

By providing affordable and reliable electricity to the lower echelons of the country’s population, and connecting public social facilities such as schools and health posts, it has not only increased productivity among the beneficiaries but also improved security in the covered communities.

Since its inception in 2003, the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has been implementing a robust rural electrification programme using various methods and technologies.

So far, it had electrified 26,754 houses in rural areas countrywide as at March 31.

The connected properties include institutional staff houses for the electrified schools and rural health centres under the Grid Extension Project.

Other connections were achieved using solar technology and grid intensification methods.

In an effort to scale up household electricity connectivity in rural areas, REA has embarked on an intensification programme in completed Grid Extension Project areas where the private rural households are the primary targets.

All they need to pay is a subsidised connection fee of K250.

The Electricity Service Access Project (ESAP) funded by the World Bank has provided the necessary impetus to REA’s efforts to give as many rural families and public institutions access to affordable electricity.

Under this programme, REA intends to connect typical rural communities that are along the national grid.

The World Bank has under ESAP approved a credit facility of US$26.5 million whose sole objective is to increase electricity access in targeted rural parts of the country.

The five-year project, whose implementation started in 2017, will cover the whole Zambia and ensure about 22 000 houses and 1, 000 Medium and Small Scale Enterprises in rural areas being connected to the Grid.

Director for engineering Patrick Mubanga said the authority had so far connected 13,000 households out of the 22,0000, which he said was past half of the target.

Mr Mubanga explained that REA implemented ESAP because it realised that people had challenges in paying the normal connection fee of K750 for households and K2,500 for medium and small-scale enterprises (SMEs).

He was speaking during the tour of projects in Central, Northern and Luapula provinces with special assistant to the President for project monitoring and implementation Andrew Chela and journalists.

Mr Mubanga said the connection fee challenge was not only affecting consumers but the authority as well in that it was failing to get as many people in the rural areas connected to the national grid as possible, which is its core objective.

He said to increase access in rural areas, where it was very low at 4.4 percent, REA approached the World Bank for increased funding towards the project to increase the number of beneficiaries.

“So, as an institution mandated to provide the electricity infrastructure to rural areas we realised that failure to pay a connection fee was a challenge not only to consumers but to us as REA as well. We were not getting the numbers that we wanted,” Mr Mubanga said.

He said with funding from the World Bank, many people in rural areas were now getting connected at a subsidised fee of K250 instead of K1,750 per household and K750 from K2,500 for SMEs.

This reform somehow made the burden lighter for those who wanted their houses of businesses connected.

When customers pay a subsidised fee of K250, REA makes a top-up to Zesco Limited so that the utility did not provide the power at a loss.

“Already, we have started engaging our colleagues from the World Bank so that they increase funding for this programme, and already they have made a commitment of US$7 million. So far they have given us US$3 million which is a plus,” he said.

Mr Mubanga said within five years, REA could even double the connections to 44,000, which would be a plus to the authority and the benefitting communities.

An ESAP beneficiary, Luka Chikontwe, of Mwamfuli Village in Samfya district, Luapula Province, said since his shop was connected to the national grid in June this year at a subsidised fee of K750 his tailoring business had been boosted.

Mr Chikontwe said with electricity he is able to make about 15 outfits using an electric tailoring machine compared to the five he used to make with the manual one.

Another beneficiary, Frank Kasakula, described the ready board as a blessing because it has improved the lives of beneficiaries.

Mr Kasakula said the system had enabled most benefitting households to be connected, including those living in thatched houses like his.

Another beneficiary, Mirriam Muyupi, a grade 12 pupils at Chinyanta Secondary School said studying had been made easier with the coming of power to the area through the ready board.

She said passing grade 12 examinations was now a reality.

And Mr Chela said he was disappointed with the ministry of health and education in Chitambo district for failing to do internal wiring at Muchinka Rural Health Centre and primary school.

During the tour of the projects in Central, Northern and Luapula provinces REA learned lessons on the need to diversify from grid connectivity to renewable energy.

This was the subject of discussion during a courtesy call on Paramount Chief Chitimukulu in Kasama district in Northern Province.

The traditional leader urged REA to venture into alternative sources of energy apart from tapping from the national electricity grid.

Mr Mubanga said REA had piloted a project on renewable energy in Mpanta in Samfya district where it was providing electricity to more than 600 households from its solar mini grid.

The availability of electricity in rural communities will make it possible for setting up new businesses such as electric hammer mills, poultry, welding and carpentry among others.

The number of members of staff at public institutions are also expected to greatly improve with the availability of power as they will be motivated to live and work in rural areas.