Financiers of the $1.2billion Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania power interconnector meet to raise funds for its completion
Project financers for the 2,300km Zambia Tanzania and Kenya (ZTK) power interconnector are meeting in Zambia to raise funds for the completion of the $1.2 billion project.
The ZTK is a Tripartite Priority Project of COMESA, East Africa Community and Southern Africa Development Community as well as the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) under the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the Africa Power Vision (APV).
The project entails construction of bidirectional high voltage power transmission lines and associated substations from Kabwe in Zambia through Tanzania and terminating at Isinya in Kenya. The cost of the remaining sections of the ZTK is estimated at USD 307 million.
With support from the European Union, COMESA has continued to promote the ZTK not only to interconnect the three countries, but also to create a link between the Southern African Power Pool and the East African Power Pool making it possible to transmit power from Cape to Cairo. Upon completion, the project is expected to enhance electricity trade, improve security of electricity supply and foster social-economic development and regional integration.
At the opening of the financiers’ conference the Vice President of Zambia Mrs. Inonge Wina said there could never be any meaningful development if African countries ignored investment in power generation.
In a speech presented by the Minister in the office of the Vice President Sylvia Chalikosa, the Vice President said African countries should continue investing in power generation to promote development in the continent.
“This project will stimulate and support new investment in power generation, transmission, distribution and rural electrification infrastructure,” she said.
Zambia has constructed the first 400km 330 kv line from Pensulo to Kasama including the expansion of the substations which were commissioned in 2015, according to Zambia’s Energy Minister David Mabumba. He urged cooperating partners to provide financing for the remaining sections estimated at US $200 million for the Zambian section.
The NEPAD Head of Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Programme Mr. Symerre Grey Johnson said lack of electricity in Africa remains one of the biggest barriers to the continent’s economic development and prosperity.
Mr. Johnson who also represented the COMESA Secretary General Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya said Africa had immense green energy potential that could be economically exploited.
Other speakers at the conference included the Zambia of Finance Minister Felix Mutati Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Chistopher Mvunga, Mr. Henry Karanja representing the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya.
Development partners supporting the ZTK project include the European Union, the Africa Development Bank, the World Bank and EU. Others include the Government of Norway, KfW, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and European Investment Bank.