By Chrispin Inambao WINDHOEK The chronic interruptions along the grid powering Katima Mulilo with cheaper hydro-energy from Zambia, that have been so frequent lately, are being addressed. The frequent blackouts have not only ruined many electrical appliances, namely fridges, DVDs, computers, radios and hi-fis, but have also resulted in perishables going to waste. Several businesses such as grocery shops and supermarkets have been affected. Following an article in this newspaper on the outages that adversely impacted on businesses, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Griffin Nyirongo, contacted senior management at the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), the power exporter. A statement issued through the High Commissioner’s Office in Windhoek, said ZESCO “would like to assure its customers that it is doing everything possible to normalize the power supplies to Western Province (in Zambia), Katima Mulilo (in Namibia) and other affected areas, and calls upon its esteemed customers to continue to exercise patience while the above (issues) are being addressed.” The Zambian power utility stated the Victoria Falls Power Station has just undergone major refurbishment under ZESCO’s Power Rehabilitation Project at a cost of US45 million and a lot of new systems and equipment have been installed by the contractor. “This power station is the link between the Zambian national grid at Kafue town and the power lines supplying the Western Province and Katima Mulilo in Namibia. During the past few weeks, the station has experienced a number of spurious trippings,” it stated. Due to its location in the power system, disturbances affecting the power station usually result in interruptions of power supplies to those areas connected to it, it said, adding: “Newly commissioned plants often have such problems during the initial phase of operation after commissioning.” It continued: “ZESCO engineers together with their counterparts from the contractor have identified the areas of weakness in the new equipment and are working to rectify them. When this remedial work is completed, power supplies to Western Province and Katima Mulilo in Namibia will be a lot more stable,” the release issued through Nyirongo states. Nyirongo explained that the power problem is not only endemic to Katima Mulilo butt equally affects consumers at Sesheke and Mongu in Zambia. All the affected towns were previously supplied with electric power via a 66kV line and due to the length of this line customers at the tail-end at Mongu and Kaoma experienced low voltages especially during evenings when demand for power peaks. ZESCO eventually erected a 220kV line stretching from the famed Victoria Falls to Sesheke and this line was commissioned in September 2006 and some loads were transferred to the new line. ZESCO explained that though there is improved voltage profile in all the areas that it supplies from its new line, however under certain operating conditions this grid generates high voltages because it is designed to operate with voltage control equipment. “This equipment has been ordered and will be delivered (only) in July 2007,” it stated. In the meantime, the over-voltage protection installed on the line switches it out whenever the voltage approaches the maximum allowable limits….” stated ZESCO. Historically, Katima Mulilo equipped with an old diesel-fired power station has never been linked to the national power grid of NamPower that supplies all parts of Namibia, and it had in recent years relied on imported electricity supplied by Zambia.