Energy expert Johnson Chikwanda has reiterated his call on the new dawn government to consider a supplementary budget and increase the budgetary allocation to Rural Electrification Authority-REA to K1 billion.
Mr Chikwanda tells Phoenix News that currently the rural electrification authority is working below budget and if the country is to achieve 51 percent of rural electrification by 2030 government must urgently address the issue.
Mr. Chikwanda has also stressed on the need for Zambia to adopt different methods such as grid extension and the use of off grid power generation such as solar power plant tailored for a specific community in rural areas.
He says so far, the Rural Electrification Authority has demonstrated the capability in that area hence the need for support such as an upward adjustment in budgetary allocation.
Mr Chikwanda is of the view that once this is done, it will also cut down on deforestation among people living in rural areas who depend entirely on wood as a source of energy.
Currently Zambia’s rural electrification stands at 8 percent with about K352 million allocated to the rural electrification authority in the 2022 national budget.
CREDIT: PHOENIX NEWS
