Zambia to go for solar energy

Aug 13, 2007 - Xinhua

The Zambian government intends to make solar energy an integral part of its rural electrification program, a government official has said.

Times of Zambia Monday quoted Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister Gaston Sichilima as saying here Sunday that plans are underway and the government welcomes all efforts especially the private sector to partner with the government and assist in achieving the objective to improve the welfare of the local people.

He said the government will support the promotion and development of solar technology in the country.

Currently solar products in the country are being imported making the solar products expensive and beyond the affordability to most ordinary Zambians, he said.

He said the government is in a process of reviewing the national energy policy to make it more responsive to the current development demands and that the revised policy has reached an advance.