Govt asks Chinese firm to build hydropower stations
Zambia - Economic - 02-08-2010

The government has asked Chinese giant construction company Gezhouba Group, to consider building the USD 1.5bn hydropower stations through public private partnership, commerce deputy minister Dr Lwipa Puma has said. Dr Puma said the government wanted Gezhouba Group to also consider developing the Kabompo hydropower stations as the Chinese company scouted for investment opportunities in the country. Gezhouba Group operates its businesses through contract construction of projects, which include power plants, dams, roads, bridges and civil engineering in China and foreign countries. According to official data, the development of the 600 megawatts Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower plant was expected to be commissioned in 2017. “They havenquotet picked on any project yet but we have asked them to look at Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower station which we want to construct using public private partnership,” Dr Puma said. “They want to explore areas of investment opportunities so that we can partner where it is possible they Gezhouba Group specialise in hydropower installation and transmission lines among other things.” Dr Puma said Gezhouba Group was coming to the country at the appropriate time when the country was pursuing public private partnership in developing huge infrastructural projects. He said Gezhouba Group would also meet finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane among other government officials as they planned to explore the countryquotes investment plans. “They are also looking at mining in general, looking at possibilities of setting up a cement manufacturing plant…they are basically on the fact finding mission,” said Dr Puma.

Source: Post of Zambia