CEC to construct 114 houses for the displaced in Sailunga’s area
COPPERBELT Energy Corporation Plc plans to construct 114 three bedroomed houses in senior chief Sailunga’s area for people that will be displaced at the site where the 40-mega watts Kabompo Gorge Hydro Electric power station will be built.
The project which is estimated at KR42.5 million would also include construction of the power station housing complex comprising 40 housing units and associated facilities for permanent employees of the company.
“Construction of the two housing complexes will occur simultaneously as a single integrated project and it will also include the relocation and construction of seven churches of different denominations and is expected to take about 24 months to complete,” stated CEC Plc in its environmental impact assessment for the proposed housing projects.
“It is anticipated that over the construction period of the project, there will be direct employment of about 1,000 skilled and semi-skilled.”
And an update on progress being made on the development of the Kabompo hydro electric project posted on the CEC website disclosed that Standard Bank has been appointed as debt advisor and arranger for the project situated in Mwinilunga district.
“The debt financing process, which commenced during the first quarter of 2012, involved presenting a fully structured project to a range of international financial institutions from commercial banks to development finance institutions and export credit agencies, with a view to obtaining the most appropriate and cost effective debt terms,” it stated.
“A capital intensive project of this nature will require debt tenors of up to fifteen years. The project will cost an estimated US$ 140 million and the design specifies a roller compacted concrete dam that is 47.5 metres high and 123 metres long, a reservoir with an area of 3,485 hectares, an underground chamber for the power house, and four kilometers of tunnelling.”
It stated that construction is expected is to commence this year and project commissioning during the latter half of 2015.
In addition, CEC Plc has commenced feasibility studies for different hydro schemes along the Luapula River which, based on pre-feasibility studies already completed, are capable of accommodating at least five different hydro schemes with an estimated generation capacity of about 800 MW.
It is expected that rights to the power will be shared between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the river lies along an international border.
