Seven Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have until this month-end as a deadline to start generating power or risk having their licences revoked.

The call follows after the Minister of Energy Newton Kambala noted that out of 10 IPPs, only three are operational. “The ministry is engaging the seven companies that are idle. The government will not entertain lame excuses on their failure to roll out,” Kambala said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has revealed goals for increasing power generating capacity with 498.3 megawatts (mw) within five years, as the Ministry’s Director of Energy Cassius Chiwambo revealed that the ministry is geared to implementing projects and programmes to increase electricity access rate to help contribute towards economic growth.

Currently the electrification rate stands at 11%, against a population of 18.5 million people, according to the National Statistics Office report in 2018.