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Energy & Water
The Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) PLC was
formed in November 1997 out of the privatization
of the Power Division of the then core-mining con-
glomerate of Zambia, Zambia Consolidated Copper
Mines (ZCCM). CEC is a Public Limited Company in-
corporated under the Companies Act Cap 388 of the
Laws of Zambia and is listed on the Lusaka Stock
Exchange (LuSE).
CEC is a privately owned company that transmits
and distributes electrical energy to Zambia’s criti-
cal mining industry based mainly in the Copperbelt
Province. CEC’s power system handles about half of
Zambia’s total electricity demand. CEC’s transmis-
sion and distribution network consists of 884 kilome-
tres of overhead lines and 38 high voltage substa-
tions. With a network capacity of about 700MW, CEC
buys most of its power on long-term contracts from
ZESCO Ltd, the national power utility.
An important objective of CEC is to modernize its
power network. As the Zambian economy expands,
the nation’s critical energy needs will grow. CEC
has recognized that these needs must be met with
a modernized power network in terms of major plant
and protection equipment, with the capacity to react
to the growing requirements of the industry. CEC has
implemented a program that involves the allocation
of a certain amount of resources each year for the
replacement of necessary network equipment.
CEC’s system is maintained to the highest interna-
tional standards of reliability and availability. To en-
sure that power continues to flow in an emergency,
the company operates 80MW of emergency gas
turbine plants in selected substations throughout its
network. A well-equipped control centre operates 24
hours a day and also provides a high degree of net-
work duplication.
“CEC’s goal is not only to supply power to the mining
corporations, but also to make sure that the power is
of good quality and sustainable in emergency situ-
ations”
Hanson Sindowe
Executive Chairman
CEC also serves the region by operating an inter-
connector with the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), through which power is transmitted to Zam-
bia, and then on to Zimbabwe and South Africa.
CEC’s regional importance is expected to grow sig-
nificantly in the coming years with new interconnec-
tion projects to supply countries with shortages of
electricity in the region. Zambia is positioning itself
as a power corridor to the south and the east, and
CEC will have an important role in the development
of the world’s largest hydropower scheme on the
Inga River in Congo DRC. In November 2009, CEC
was admitted as a full member of the Southern Af-
rican Power Pool (SAPP) – becoming the first ever
privately owned and operated power utility to attain
SAPP membership. This will allow CEC to enhance
its electricity trade with other nations.
The expansion of CEC’s portfolio also includes the
provision of telecommunications services as part of
a diversified growth program. CEC has used its fibre
optic network, installed on its power lines in 2002,
to enter the telecommunications market. With the
granting of the 2005 licence, CEC became the first
company in Zambia to offer broadband fibre optic
services.
The need to significantly grow this part of the busi-
ness culminated with joint venture with retail tele-
coms service provider, Realtime Technology Alliance
Africa (Realtime Zambia).
CEC is looking into new areas of development such
as power generation. An important project for which
feasibility studies have been completed is the Ka-
bompo Gorge Hydro Power Station, located be-
tween Solwezi and Mwinilunga at Kabompo Gorge
on Kabompo River, in the North Western Province of
Zambia. The project to develop an estimated 34MW
power station is expected to bring development op-
portunities to the districts around the project area,
and expected to feed into the main Zambian elec-
tricity grid through a transmission line to the nearest
ZESCO substation at Lumwana.
CEC’s future growth strategy is based on forming
strategic partnerships in order to develop generation
and transmission projects that will have a positive
impact on the region. The migration towards cost
reflective tariffs in the region is expected to ensure
that investments will provide sufficiently attractive
returns.
“CEC is a company dedicated to long term growth
and contributing to the development of Zambia. Our
long term strategies and goals are in line with the
future development of this nation”
Hanson Sindowe
Executive Chairman