Energy

Role of Thermal Power

The Zambian economy has been growing consistently, leading to increasing demand for electricity. Meanwhile, Zambia’s strategy of increasing copper production to 3 Mn by 2031 coupled with burgeoning energy intensive industries are driving up base load requirements of power.

Zambia’s power sector is presently dominated by hydro-electric power, which is dependent on rainfall patterns and presently inadequate to meet the existing demand. Moreover, energy deficit in times of drought make Thermal power plants ideally suited to fill this gap and play a vital role in meeting the base load requirements.

The growing electricity demand in the Southern African region, coupled with a generation deficit offers the opportunity to export power on the South African Power Pool leveraging on Zambia’s location and Open Access Market regime.

Power generation by MEL

The thermal grade coal, a by-product of mining at MEL, has been hitherto dumped along with overburden as waste material, causing environmental hazard due to self-combustion. This is an excellent fuel for thermal power generation which will add substantial value to the operations of the company while mitigating the environmental pollution.

• Phase I – In the first Phase, a mine-mouth, 300MW Thermal Power Plant (CFPP) was commissioned at Maamba in August 2016.

• Phase II Expansion Plan – In the second Phase, MEL is setting up an additional 300 MW (2 x 150MW units), to double capacity to 600MW which will augment energy security and base-load generation capacity in Zambia.
  • MEL has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with ZESCO for off take of the full power.
  • The new plant will also use eco-friendly CFBC technology Boilers with highly efficient electrostatic precipitators to ensure operations are compliant with ZEMA & World Bank standards.
  • The groundbreaking ceremony for the phase II expansion was held on 13 August 2024 and was officiated by H.E. Mr. Hakainde Hichilema the President of the Republic of Zambia and the project is expected to be implemented in 24 months.
  • After Phase II is commissioned – MEL would be contributing about 18% to the national generating capacity – further augmenting energy security.

Highlights of the Power Plant:

• 2 x 510 TPH Steam Generators with Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) technology resulting in low emission of SOx and NOx.
• Steam Generator Technology suitable for efficient combustion of low grade high ash coal.
• Adequate dust control facilities at coal handling and transfer systems.
• High efficiency Electro Static Precipitators (ESP) limiting emission of particulate matter in the flue gases to well below the level permitted as per World Bank and national regulator ZEMA norms.
• Disposal of ash for filling voids in the mined out areas and for use by cement plants and brick making units.
• Water sourced from Kariba Lake, the largest man-made water body in the world.
• Evacuation of power through a 330 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line from the Power Plant at Maamba to Muzuma substation.