Government has commenced discussions on a nuclear energy development programme that will result in generation of about two Giga Watts of electricity.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chalwe Lombe says the programme will take approximately 15 years.
Ambassador Lombe disclosed this when he held talks with Toshiba General Manager for Government and External Relations, Yoshita Yamaguchi in Kawasaki – JAPAN.
He said government is already in consultations with the International Atomic Energy Agency -IAEA-, which is the world’s centre for cooperation in the nuclear field.
The IAEA Chief Director General, Yukiya Amano was recently in Zambia and discussed with the government the prospects of the program and help in ensuring that development of nuclear energy is done in a safe and protected environment.
Ambassador Lombe said the proposed nuclear programme is among many projects aimed at diversifying and broadening the energy generation sector.
He said Zambia is positioning herself to become the energy power house of Southern Africa owing to the huge potential in Hydro, Nuclear, Solar, and Geothermal power generation.
And Dr. Yamaguchi said Toshiba will soon invest in Zambia’s energy sector once the feasibility study on geothermal is concluded.
He said his company has been in talks with the Zambian Embassy in Japan over the possibility of establishing a geothermal power plant in Zambia.
The Permanent Secretary also held high level talks with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) vice president, Hiroshi Kato where various developmental and bilateral issues were discussed.
