CHIKWANDA CALLS FOR ENERGY DIVERSIFICATION

By Fulman Mukobeko

ENERGY Expert Johnstone Chikwanda says the Government should not give up on pursuing the energy diversification agenda.

This, he said, was in order to continue mitigating the risks of overspending on one source of energy.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Mr. Chikwanda said the country was currently going through significant challenges due to climate variability because the 7th National Development Plan (7NDP) was not significantly implemented.

 He said the 7NDP had very good plans aimed at diversifying the energy portfolio and that there was a need for the country to reduce dependency on fossil energy.

“In the same vein, we need to ensure that we start blending ethanol to petrol using locally-grown cassava. This will reduce the dependence on fossil fuel. In addition to that, it will create more jobs from cassava out-grower schemes,” Mr. Chikwanda said.

He said if the Government started importing ethanol for blending with fuel, the country would be depriving the opportunity of small scale farmers to grow.

He added that even the out-growers will be deprived the opportunity to participate in the energy transition.