- Kalahari Geothermal Energy has reported that their project in Bweengwa in Zambia is nearing production level.
The company’s target to begin a pilot power generation by 2021 was derailed by the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 which led to travel restrictions and a slow down in the world economic activity, something which in turn made operations at the site difficult, as some experts who had left the country for holidays never returned to work in time.
Fast forward to 2023, the company has made headways and is heading towards installing of the power generation plant which will initially produce 10 Megawatts and eventually scale up to 30 Megawatts.
In the meantime, the company says there is so much energy which needs to be channeled to other uses from the process which should help communities around the District and the country at large.
Recently, Kalahari Geothermal Energy Company Managing Director, Dr. Moses Banda, led a delegation from Zambia to Kenya on a mission to appreciate some of the Direct Applications of the heat energy from Geothermal Energy.
Kenya is the biggest producer of Geothermal Energy in Africa and the mission was meant to understand other uses the energy is being applied on to improve the lives of the people apart from power generation.
Speaking during the tour of Africa’s biggest rose flowers exporter to the USA and Europe, Oseria flower farm, which employs over 4, 000 workers in Naivasha, Dr. Banda said the mission was in the country to appreciate Geothermal Energy and learn how the Kalahari Geothermal project in Bweengwa of Monze in Zambia can transform the lives of people around the area and contribute to the country’s economy.
He noted that Kenya has been producing Geothermal Energy for decades and that some of their experiences and knowledge can be transferred to Zambia especially in the areas of direct applications which would not only create employment but also help create market for farm products and lead to increased GDP.
“We are here in Kenya to appreciate Geothermal Energy. In my entourage we have His Royal Highness Chief Hamusonde who is the traditional leader for the people of Bweengwa, we also have the economic advisor to the President, Monze District Administrative Officer and Monze Town Council Public Relations officer. This mission is mainly to appreciate what other uses come from the production of Geothermal Power production.
“We know from literature that you can use these energies to help improve the lives of people through direct applications but we have not seen first hand. We are happy to have his Royal Highness in our team so that he can see for himself how the project can improve the lives in his Chiefdom. We don’t want to have a project such as the Kaliba Dam project were locals were left watching water after being displaced without any major positive impact on their lives as power was shipped to the mines in the Copperbelt.
“We are sure that when the direct applications are actualized it will be the biggest single investment in Southern Province since the Kaliba Dam project and will create thousands of jobs for both locals and experts across the country,” he said.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
