REHO DISCUSSES ENERGY WITH CEEEZ DIRECTOR

UNCLAS GABORONE 000677 DEPT FOR OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/FO, OES/ENV DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EPS AND EEB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ECON EAID ZA BC SUBJECT: REHO DISCUSSES ENERGY WITH CEEEZ DIRECTOR ¶1. Summary: Regional Environment and Health Officer for Southern Africa (REHO) and Embassy Lusaka Econ/Commercial Assistant met June 4 with Professor Yamba, Chairman of the Centre for Energy, Environment and Engineering Zambia (CEEEZ),to discuss energy issues in Zambia. He described CEEEZ's mission, past and present activities, and potential role in policy making. CEEEZ has a lot of expertise and experience on energy issues that it has on occasion offered to the Government of Zambia (GRZ),but has had limited success in influencing policy. End Summary. Core Mission -------------- ¶2. Embassy Lusaka Econ/Commercial Specialist and REHO met June 4 in Lusaka with CEEEZ Chairman Dr. Francis Yamba, to discuss energy issues in Zambia. (Note: Dr. Yamba is a former member of the National Energy Council which advises the GOZ on a broad range of energy issues, as well as a board member of the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation. He is currently Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Zambia. End Note.) Yamba began by explaining that CEEEZ is a local research NGO established in 1993 with a view to collaborating with the GRZ and other stakeholders on energy, environment and engineering issues. CEEEZ investigates, analyzes and makes policy recommendations to its clients. He said CEEEZ's key areas are thus research and consultancy on environment and energy. ¶3. With respect to energy, Yamba said CEEEZ focuses its investigative studies on energy security, efficiency and access to better inform the policy process in Zambia. For instance, CEEEZ did an energy planning study on supply and demand in the mid 1990's, predicting, accurately as it turned out, a serious energy shortage in Zambia and Southern Africa by 2007. Yamba lamented that GRZ policy makers ignored CEEEZ's stark warnings. Asked if he thought the GRZ would now take CEEEZ's advice more seriously, Yamba demurred, noting that he has not had much contact with policy makers lately. Energy Activities -------------- ¶4. Yamba noted that CEEEZ is actively involved in the development of energy and environmental projects, particularly those encompassing energy efficiency and renewable energy. For instance, the imminent launch of the West Lunga Project, which is located 600 miles Northwest of Lusaka, entails the establishment of mini hydroelectric dams capable of supplying 3 MW of electricity. The Chilinga Project 240 miles East of Lusaka involves 1-MW hydroelectric dams. Regarding biomass, CEEEZ is studying its future potential, especially for decentralized institutions. Currently, CEEEZ has chosen three districts for this activity: Lukulu, Shangombo and Luangua. ¶5. CEEEZ has also been active in the African Rural Energy Enterprise Development (AREED),according to Yamba. His organization got financing from the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA). He said this regional project (it includes Tanzania and Mali) has so far received USD 3 million to work with energy entrepreneurs to finance viable projects, as process that has been underway for 8 years. Funded projects have included solar-powered bakeries, improved stoves, solar drying of vegetables, and other energy efficiency projects. SIDA is also supporting irrigation projects run by small-scale farmers and "telecenters" in rural areas lacking electricity. Environmental Activities -------------- ¶6. Alluding to CEEEZ's environmental endeavors, Yamba noted the continuing focus on climate change studies and modeling, particularly regarding the possible impact of changing climates in the Zambezi river basin on the generation of hydroelectric power. Additionally, CEEEZ, as the focal point for Zambia, is pursuing a number of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. They encompass capacity building, project design, financing and development, and application of sustainability indicators to CDM projects, climate adaptation strategies, monitoring and evaluation, and verification/certification and issuance of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). CEEEZ is also Zambia's focal point for Green-House Gas (GHG) emissions, routinely acting as auditor for various clients. In addition, CEEEZ does environmental impact assessments (EIAs),sustainable development indicators and energy-related environmental analysis. Finally, Yamba revealed that he has urged the GOZ to pursue energy efficiency and better energy management. DROUIN