The Minister of Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse has reaffirmed that the government has no intention of privatising electricity transmission and distribution.

Describing the sector as a national security asset, Amutse said NamPower must retain control of transmission infrastructure, while the Electricity Control Board (ECB) may explore regulatory options.

Amutse was responding to a question by official opposition leader Immanuel Nashinge, who asked the minister to clarify why the ECB advertised for a private-sector partner to develop a framework for the potential privatisation of the national power grid.

"I want to find out when the ECB advertised somewhere at the end of August or early September. They have been advert-seeking for a private sector to structure some framework towards the privatisation of national power grid lines. So with that statement that you have made, what does that bid mean at this point in time? Is the commitment and the assurance that you have given as a minister responsible?"

Amutse said discussions are ongoing to ensure that any proposed approach aligns with the government's position.

"We can only control if we are the one controlling the distribution, specifically our transmission of electricity as mandated by the act that mandated the establishment of NamPower. So that is an activity that NamPower has to carry on as far as the government is concerned. ECB is a regulator. They can look at different forms of regulation. I cannot speak for them, but I would assume that perhaps they wanted to look at different options of finding solutions to electricity generation and supply, and where we cannot meet each other in terms of agreeing with terms, we have to come together. And that is where we are now, just to iron out what we definitely have to do together so that we don't argue about the government position, which is for the electricity distribution and transmission to be controlled by the government. It's actually where we are standing."