Rural Electrification Act. Country/Territory Zambia Document type Legislation Date 2003 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAn Act to establish the Rural Electrification Authority and to define its functions; to establish the Rural Electrification Fund; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing. Subject Agricultural & rural development, Energy Keyword Agricultural development Capacity building Community management Royalties/fees Energy conservation/energy production Business/industry/corporations Consumer protection Inspection Special fund Geographical area Africa, Eastern Africa, Landlocked Developing Nations, Least Developed Countries Abstract This Act establishes the Rural Electrification Authority as an independent body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, with the capacity to sue and be sued in its corporate name. The Authority performs a host of functions, including to administer and manage the Rural Electrification Fund; to develop, implement and update rural electrification master plans for the systematic electrification of rural areas; promote the utilization of available rural electrification technological options promote the utilization of available rural electrification technological options to enhance the contribution of energy to the development of agriculture, industry, mining and other economic activities in rural areas; mobilise funds from within and outside Zambia in support of rural electrification; to offer, on a competitive basis, the construction of rural electrification projects and periodically publish information on programmes being carried out; to design and offer, on a competitive basis, to developers or operators, smart subsidies for capital costs on projects that are designed to supply energy for development of rural areas; in conjunction with stakeholders, develop mechanisms for the operation of grid extension networks for rural electrification and other rural energy supply systems; to finance project preparation studies for rural electrification projects in accordance with guidelines developed and approved by the Authority; to recommend to Government policies for the enhancement of access to electricity by the rural populations; amongst others. The Act also provides for the composition of the Authority and details the tenure of office of members, as well as issues of vacancy of seat. The Act also constitutes a Secretariat of the Authority which functions to implement the decisions of the Authority. The Act further establishes the Rural Electrification Fund which consists of money set aside by the Parliament for the purposes of the fund, electricity levies collected and incidental money paid into the Fund by way of loans, grants or donations. The Act vests power on the Minister to make regulations for the administration of the Act. Full text English References - Legislation Amended by Rural Electrification (Amendment) Act, No. 20 of 2021. Legislation | Zambia | 2021 Keyword: Agricultural development, Energy conservation/energy production Source: FAO, FAOLEX Repealed by Rural Electrification Act, No. 5 of 2023. Legislation | Zambia | 2023 Keyword: Special fund, Smallholders/peasants, Capacity building, Energy conservation/energy production, Sustainable development Source: FAO, FAOLEX