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ZAMBIA - ATLAS OF OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
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The main source of energy in Zambia is woodfuel,
accounting for 80 percent of domestic energy
(Environmental Council of Zambia, 2008). Other
sources of energy are electricity, fossil fuels such as
petroleum and coal, and biofuels.
Zambia’s energy consumption has risen over the
last few years as a result of increasing activities in
economic sectors such as mining, construction,
manufacturing and agriculture as shown in Figure
2.7. This has resulted in increased demand for both
electricity and petroleum products (Environmental
Council of Zambia, 2008).
The use of environmentally unfriendly technologies
such as old braziers and mud kilns has also caused
the increase in the use of firewood. Inadequate
implementation of energy sector regulations has
further compounded the problem. Efforts to promote
improved braziers have been taking place in Zambia
on a small scale.
The Kafue Gorge Upper hydropower station is the largest hydropower facility
in Zambia. Located on the Kafue River, the station has a generation capacity
of 990 megawatt (MW). It was constructed in two phases from 1967 to 1972
(600 MW) and from 1976 to 1978 (300 MW). The station has a reservoir area of
about 805 sq kilometres with a maximum retention of 977 metres above sea
level (masl), representing 770 million cubic metres of live storage. Through a
power rehabilitation project, the power plant was later upgraded to 990 MW.
Energy
Box 2.1 Kafue Gorge Hydro-Power Station
Charcoal on sale in Chirundu
Mukundi, M., 2009