Zambia - Atlas of our Changing Environment

Energy

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.

Box 2.1 Kafue Gorge Hydro-Power Station

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.

Charcoal on sale in Chirundu Mukundi, M., 2009

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ZAMBIA - ATLAS OF OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT