Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development received a proposal to undertake a feasibility study of seven (7) of the solar milling plants distributed under the Zambia Cooperatives Federation in Kaumbwe Constituency in Eastern Province.
Speaking during the meeting at her office today Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Permanent Secretary Mrs. Subeta Mutelo said that the Government was open to the findings of the study adding that the solar milling plants once functional will contribute to productivity and job creation around communities in which they are located.
Mrs. Subeta said once the Cooperatives operating the milling plants are empowered to operationalise the milling plants, the escalation of mealie meal prices will likely be minimised in the respective communities.
She added that there is a need for the Ministry to engage the community in which they were installed with the view to sensitise the communities on the use and benefits that come along such facilities.
And Kaumbwe Constituency Member of Parliament Dr. Arron Mwanza who facilitated the study by China Power JJC in his constituency, said there is need for the Government to take keen interest in the operationalisation of the 1571 solar milling plants dotted across the country.
Dr. Mwanza who presented the findings said the solar milling plants if well utilised have the capacity to supply power to about 30 households, a school, clinic and small holder businesses in a particular community within a 1km radius.
He said his constituency was ready to work with China Power JJC and had identified some milling plants that could be used as pilot projects once the Government through the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development agrees to the Memorandum of Understanding being proposed.
He stated that during the research, his team found that most of the plant equipment where intact apart from a few cases where some solar panels where damaged with selected cases of community members not understanding the management nor ownership structure of the milling plant projects.
He pointed out that there is need for the Government to actively engage communities before and after projects were implemented for them to take ownership.